Thinking Beyond Patterns: Finding Meaning in Your Data

02/25/2025

12:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Toby Groves

Chattanooga State Community College, Chattanooga, TN, 37406

New technologies and analytical methods detect myriad patterns in our data, but what do they really mean and what decisions can they help us make? Is the underlying data reliable? Is it valid for the purpose you are using it? Cognitive technologies distance us from the context of our data, shrouding the meaning behind the patterns and how to apply the information for effective decision-making. New thinking approaches are required to move beyond simple recognition of correlations to insight into why relationships exist. This session will teach methods that give us the ability to discern the inner character of problems, to recognize why interactions occur, and what decisions can be made with the information. Major subjects include:

Moving from “perceiving” to “meaning”
A new approach to professional skepticism
How to develop situational awareness
Why you should know the limitations of your data
The cognitive science of emotional intelligence
New brainstorming techniques
Data screening methods
Handling abstract, unstructured and extreme data

Dr. Toby Groves is a writer, speaker, and researcher specializing in thinking and decision quality with talks that focus on the IT audit field. His work, leveraging a PhD in psychology and expertise in doctoral-level statistics, spans over 700 audiences, including more than 200 IT-specific groups. He is known for his insights into insider threats, the synergy between data science and psychology, and the implications of AI on fraud. His approach uniquely blends cognitive strategies with innovative applications, aiming to enhance decision-making in high-stakes environments.