Studying Student Learning Trajectories for Sampling Distributions by Using Simulation Activities

• Activity Number: 575
• Type: Topic Contributed
• Date/Time: Wednesday, August 4, 2010 : 2:00 PM to 3:50 PM
• Sponsor: Section on Statistical Education
• Author(s): Aaron Weinberg*+ and Stacey Hancock and Jennifer Noll and Sean Simpson
• Companies: Ithaca College and Reed College and Portland State University and Westchester Community College
• Keywords: Sampling Distributions ; Inference ; Simulation ; Student Learning ; Statistics Education

Abstract

As researchers have noted, understanding ideas related to sampling distributions is an essential component of understanding of statistical inference. However, the concept is notoriously difficult for students to understand. Many educators have recommended using computer simulation methods, yet these recommendations are not supported by substantial empirical research and previous efforts have found only limited gains in student understanding. We will describe previous research on the learning of sampling distributions and discuss how new frameworks (e.g. APOS) may help us better understand students' conceptions. We will discuss a research project in which we will describe a theoretical learning trajectory for sampling distributions, design instructional activities based on hands-on and computer simulation, and analyze student work and conceptions using various theoretical frameworks.