St. Charles
Explaining Three Complex Statistical Concepts to Nonstatisticians (303780)
*Karen Grace-Martin, The Analysis Factor, LLC
Keywords: communication, consulting, nontechnical skills, explaining complex statistical concepts
The ability to explain complicated statistical concepts simply to researchers, business leaders, and aspiring data analysts is important for all statisticians, but is a fundamental skill for statistical consultants. Finding the language clients understand is particularly challenging in statistics since clients are often exposed to different statistical terminology and notation in different software, fields of application, and textbooks.
There are many techniques for how to communicate complex concepts that include using analogies, examples, diagrams, and more, but it can be difficult to see how these techniques apply to statistical topics. This presentation will demonstrate how to apply these techniques to three statistical concepts that many consulting clients struggle to grasp: interactions, odds ratios, and random effects. For each of these concepts, participants will learn where many clients get stuck and see examples of the communication techniques to help clients gain clarity.
Participants will receive access to recordings of full-length online presentations given to a non-statistical audience on all three topics to see these examples in action.