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Abstract:
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Given that the practicing statistician needs to communicate clearly and effectively with clients who may lack familiarity with statistical terminology and concepts, it is important that the undergraduate curriculum include opportunities for statistical consulting and collaborative research to help students develop skills necessary for communicating with clients. In this talk, we describe how the authors integrated two of their projects into their undergraduate curriculum—a consulting project advising a local municipality on the effectiveness of their Covid-19 response, and a second project collaborating with academic researchers on comparing the quality of dental materials. In training students to consult and collaborate with clients, it is important to emphasize critical elements of communication including practicing interviewing and listening skills to ensure an understanding of the client’s goals, resources, and potential limitations, developing strategies to identify misunderstandings and address project challenges, as well as learning to enhance the clarity, succinctness, and professionality of their writing.
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