Online Program

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Saturday, October 20
Knowledge
Community
Sat, Oct 20, 11:45 AM - 1:15 PM
Caprice 1-2
Teaching Statistics

Mentoring Multidisciplinary Students in a Research Methods Course (304886)

*Amanda Ginter, Towson University 

Keywords: mentoring, pedagogy, multidisciplinary studies, undergraduate student research, graduate student research

On the first day of class, I ask my research methods students to share what they are most excited and what they are most fearful about encountering in their semester-long course with me. "Excited" provokes blank stares much of the time; their list of fears can fill up the rest of the class period. My courses include family science, psychology, and child life students; over 90% of these students are female. Over the eight semesters I have taught quantitative research methods at the undergraduate and graduate levels, I have developed several techniques for countering students' concerns and disinterest with more positive approaches to statistics. In my presentation I will share how students and I discuss being consumers of statistical information and misinformation, the application of statistics to students' current studies and future careers, specific assignments that students have found useful, and pedagogical influences. Student and peer feedback will be discussed, along with recommendations for others teaching statistics to students in multidisciplinary studies.