The Red Herring of Big Data

The Red Herring of Big Data
Brian Croxall, March 13, 2014

I can summarize the centrakl argument about big data offered in this essay very easily:

• Data need interpretation
• Data don’t have to be big.
• Data aren’t always the answer

But this doesn't really do it justice. It's not simply that data need interpretation, it is rather that sometimes the data suggest an interpretation, sometimes we bring our own interpretation to the party, and sometimes there just isn't an interpretaion to be had. More...