Statistical Literacy and Attitudes Towards Statistics of Romanian Undergraduate Students

Cimpoeru, Smaranda and Roman, Monica (2018): Statistical Literacy and Attitudes Towards Statistics of Romanian Undergraduate Students. Published in: Journal of Social and Economic Statistics , Vol. 7, No. 1 (31 August 2018): pp. 1-18.

Abstract

Statistical literacy is the capacity to challenge statistics encountered in everyday life (Gal, 2002) and has become a key competence for the entire work-force in today’s data-driven society. However, teaching statistics to non-economists has some particularities determined by their anxiety towards the subject. In order to have a better approach in teaching Statistics to this type of audience, the paper provides an analysis regarding students’ initial level of statistical literacy, the attitudes and beliefs towards Statistics, in the case of undergraduate students of the “Applied Modern Language” program under Bucharest University of Economic Studies. Using the models developed by Gal (2002) and Watson (2003), the results prove that basic statistical literacy skills like graph analysis or table reading are sound, while mathematical level is well below average, correlated with a high anxiety regrading mathematics and preconceptions about complexity of statistics.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Statistical literacy Statistics education undergraduate non-economists students attitude towards statistics teaching and learning statistics
• Subjects: A - General Economics and Teaching > A2 - Economic Education and Teaching of Economics > A22 - Undergraduate; C - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods > C1 - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General > C19 - Other; I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I2 - Education and Research Institutions > I23 - Higher Education ; Research Institutions

References

Budgett, S. and Pfannkuch, M. (2010). Assessing Students' Statistical Literacy. In Assessment Methods in Statistical Education (eds P. Bidgood, N. Hunt and F. Jolliffe). doi:10.1002/9780470710470.ch9

Chance, B. L. (2002). Components of Statistical Thinking and Implications for Instruction and Assessment. Journal of Statistics Education, 10(3).

delMas, R. C. (2002). Statistical Literacy, Reasoning, and Learning. Journal of Statistics Education, 10(3).

Ferligoj, A. (2015). How to Improve Statistical Literacy?. Metodoloski Zvezki, 12(1), pp.1-10.

American Statistical Association, (2016). Guidelines for Assessment and Instruction in Statistics Education College Report, available at: http://www.amstat.org/education/gaise/GAISECollege.htm

Gal, I. (2002). Adults' statistical literacy: Meanings, components, responsibilities. International Statistical Review, 70(1), pp. 1-25.

Garfield, J. (2002). The challenge of developing statistical reasoning. Journal of Statistics Education, 10(3), pp. 58-69.

Horton, N. J. (2015). Challenges and opportunities for statistics and statistical education: looking back, looking forward. The American Statistician, 69(2), pp. 138-145.

McKinsey Report (2011). Big data: The next frontier for innovation, competition, and productivity, available at: http://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/digital-mckinsey/our-insights/big-data-the-next-frontier-for-innovation

Ridgway, J. (2016). Implications of the Data Revolution for Statistics Education. International Statistical Review, 84 (3), pp. 528 – 549.

Rumsey, D. J. (2002). Statistical literacy as a goal for introductory statistics courses. Journal of Statistics Education, 10(3), pp. 6-13.

Tishkovskaya, S., & Lancaster, G. A. (2012). Statistical education in the 21st century: a review of challenges, teaching innovations and strategies for reform. Journal of Statistics Education, 20(2).

Watson, J. M. (1997). Assessing Statistical Thinking Using the Media, in: Gal, I. and Garfield, J. B. (Eds.).The Assessment Challenge in Statistics Education. IOS Press and The International Statistical Institute, Amsterdam, pp 107-121.

Watson, J. M. (2003). Statistical literacy at the school level: What should students know and do. ISI 54, Berlin, 2003.

Watson, J., Callingham, R. (2003). Statistical literacy: A complex hierarchical construct. Statistics Education Research Journal, 2(2), 3-46.

World Economic Forum (2016). Global Challenge Insight Report. The Future of Jobs, available at: https://www.weforum.org/reports/the-future-of-jobs

Yotongyos, M., Traiwichitkhun, D., & Kaemkate, W. (2015). Undergraduate Students’ Statistical Literacy: A Survey Study. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 191, 2731-2734.