Position: Measure Dataset Diversity, Don't Just Claim It
Dora Zhao, Jerone Andrews, Orestis Papakyriakopoulos, Alice Xiang
Abstract
Machine learning (ML) datasets, often perceived as neutral, inherently encapsulate abstract and disputed social constructs. Dataset curators frequently employ value-laden terms such as diversity, bias, and quality to characterize datasets. Despite their prevalence, these terms lack clear definitions and validation. Our research explores the implications of this issue by analyzing "diversity" across 135 image and text datasets. Drawing from social sciences, we apply principles from measurement theory to identify considerations and offer recommendations for conceptualizing, operationalizing, and evaluating diversity in datasets. Our findings have broader implications for ML research, advocating for a more nuanced and precise approach to handling value-laden properties in dataset construction.
BibTeX
@inproceedings{
zhao2024position,
title={Position: Measure Dataset Diversity, Don't Just Claim It},
author={Dora Zhao and Jerone Andrews and Orestis Papakyriakopoulos and Alice Xiang},
booktitle={Forty-first International Conference on Machine Learning},
year={2024},
url={https://openreview.net/forum?id=jsKr6RVDDs}
}