In/visibilities in Data Studies: Methods, Tools, and Interventions

This chapter highlights the intricate nature of data and their profound social implications. It examines the acts of rendering data visible and the inherent power dynamics and imbalances that accompany such processes. Our dialogue unfolds in three interconnected parts, each focusing on the intersection of in/visibility and power. Part 1 attends to the challenges of producing knowledge about and with data, emphasizing the relativity, fluidity, and instability inherent in data. It explores frameworks that uncover the often invisible infrastructures of algorithms, rendering visible the actors, technologies, and divergent values involved in data manipulation. Part 2 presents empirical case studies that analyse the consequences of data visibility while contemplating the methodological opportunities and challenges of foregrounding the embedded values and norms within data. Part 3 discusses tool-based interventions aimed at bringing alternative data framings and narratives to the fore. It examines the complexities of tracing data across various contexts and the value, utility, and obstacles associated with creating visual representations of data and their flows. By critically engaging with the complexities of data in/visibility, this chapter challenges existing gatekeepers and fosters a deeper understanding of the multifaceted nature of data and its socio-political ramifications.