Motivating Statistical Thinking for Second-Level Students in Ireland with Basic Graphics

• Activity Number: 301
• Type: Contributed
• Date/Time: Tuesday, August 5, 2003 : 2:00 PM to 3:50 PM
• Sponsor: Section on Statistical Education
• Author(s): Philip J. Boland*+
• Companies: University College Dublin
• Keywords: stem-and-leaf plots ; boxplots ; statistical graphics

Abstract

Basic graphical techniques can be a great motivator in getting students to think and discuss statistical aspects of an issue which otherwise might be hidden or hard to find in a table. Basic techniques include stem-and-leaf plots, box plots, and standard x-y plots. Of course considerable motivation for students comes from the content of the issue at hand, and the importance of local relevance is crucial. What might be an interesting example in one country (say, baseball statistics in the U.S.A.) might be useless in another (say, Ireland). Several examples of an Irish nature are given illustrating both local relevance and the impact that basic graphics can have on interpretation. These examples include those highlighting: geographical variation in economic assistance by county in Ireland; daily births in Ireland--how do they vary by day of the week and what is the impact of holidays?; age and gender variation of public representatives in the Irish Dail; can graphics prove cheating in Irish university exams? In spite of the Irish nature of these examples, the claim is that they have interesting analogues in any country.