A reflective look at the epistemological context of data analytics

Authors

  • Luis Miguel Mejia Giraldo Universidad La Gran Colombia Author
  • Ximena Cifuentes Wchima Universidad La Gran Colombia Author
  • Bibiana Vélez Medina Universidad La Gran Colombia Author
  • John Edward Herrera Universidad La Gran Colombia Author
  • Luis Fernando Restrepo Betancur Universidad La Gran Colombia Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18634/sophiaj.21v.1i.1440

Keywords:

data science, field of research, education and research, epistemology

Abstract

The modern abundance and prominence of data has led to the development of “data science” as a new field of research, along with a body of epistemological reflections on its foundations, methods, and consequences. This article is derived from the research exercise on the purposes of education where the analysis of knowledge provides a systematic dynamic and a critical review of important problems and open debates in the epistemology of analytics and data science, proposing a division of epistemology of data science in the following five aspects: Maximalistic and minimalist characterizations, descriptive taxonomies, the knowledge generated by data science, black box problems and science in a data-intensive paradigm, aspects that provide a reflective exercise against to understanding and addressing essential aspects of data interpretation and understanding hidden patterns in them, this being the challenge of analytics as such.

Author Biographies

  • Luis Miguel Mejia Giraldo, Universidad La Gran Colombia
    Master's in Sustainable Development and Environment. Associate Professor - Faculty of Engineering, La Gran Colombia University. Armenia, Colombia. Leader of the GIDA Research Group. Email: mejiagluismiguel@miugca.edu.co
  • Ximena Cifuentes Wchima, Universidad La Gran Colombia
    Master's in Sustainable Development and Environment. Dean - Faculty of Engineering, La Gran Colombia University. Armenia, Colombia. Member of the Land Management Research Group. Email: defingenieria@ugca.edu.co
  • Bibiana Vélez Medina, Universidad La Gran Colombia
    Ph.D. in Educational Sciences. M.A. in Education. Acting Rector of La Gran Colombia University. Armenia, Colombia. Leader of the PAIDEIA research group. Email: rectoraugca@ugca.edu.co
  • John Edward Herrera, Universidad La Gran Colombia
    Master's degree in Integrated Quality Management Systems. Associate Professor - Faculty of Engineering, La Gran Colombia University. Armenia, Colombia. Email: herreraquijohn@miugca.edu.co
  • Luis Fernando Restrepo Betancur, Universidad La Gran Colombia
    Master's in Sustainable Development and Environment. Associate Professor - Faculty of Engineering, La Gran Colombia University. Armenia, Colombia. Leader of the GIDA Research Group. Email: mejiagluismiguel@miugca.edu.co

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Published

2025-12-02

Issue

Section

Artículo de Reflexión

How to Cite

A reflective look at the epistemological context of data analytics. (2025). Sophia, 21(1), 1-24. https://doi.org/10.18634/sophiaj.21v.1i.1440

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