Starting at JMP 18, the Boston Housing sample data table has been removed from the JMP samples. It was identified as containing problematic information – specifically, some of the data is discriminatory, unethical, and unfair.
“The Boston Housing dataset has been removed from the Sample Data Folder and the end user documentation,” Product Management Director Dan Valente (@Daniel_Valente) said. “We should also stop using this data for demonstration to users and prospects.”
Python’s scikit-learn has already removed the dataset and strongly discourages the use of the data unless the purpose of the code is to study and educate about ethical issues in data science and machine learning. “We intend to stay in step with any technology that JMP integrates with,” Technical Writing Manager Qiana Eaglin (@Qiana_Eaglin) said.
The following datasets have been identified as alternatives for regression examples: Diabetes, Liver Cancer, Body Fat, Fishing, and VA Lung Cancer. The Diabetes dataset is used in the end-user documentation.
Changes to Sample Data have also been communicated to our EA customers via the Early Adopter page and will also be communicated externally via JMP Note.
