Bigger Data Isn’t Always Better Data

When making a decision such as whether to hire, insure or lend to someone, is more data better? Actually, when it comes to fairness, the opposite is often true.

Consider a recent Harvard Business Review experiment, which involved sending 316 fake applications to the largest U.S. law firms. All the applicants were among the top 1 percent of students at their schools, but other information -- such as their names, college clubs and hobbies -- provided hints about their gender and social class.