CSP 2017 Online Program

Communicating Statistics to Nonstatisticians (303455)

Keywords: communication, non-statisticians, consulting, collaboration

One of the biggest challenges faced by any collaborative statistician is communicating statistical information to those with less knowledge of statistics. Many of us with a formal education in statistics receive extensive training in theory, methods, and application; however, even with a PhD in statistics, it is not uncommon to have taken one or no courses that focus on communicating this knowledge to those who can benefit from it. In other words, many of us leave school with little understanding of how to put our skills into effective practice.

This poster presentation will discuss practices that can be used to actively improve communication skills, including changing the language we use as statisticians, structuring interactions to benefit those involved, gauging knowledge and communication needs, and offering professional respect. This presentation will also include methods for evaluating the success and improvement in one's communication abilities. The lessons learned through this poster presentation can be put into practice immediately for any collaborative statistician.