Expectations for Statistical Literacy: a Comparison among Psychology, Business, and Public Health Professions

• Activity Number: 210
• Type: Contributed
• Date/Time: Monday, August 7, 2006 : 2:00 PM to 3:50 PM
• Sponsor: Section on Statistical Education
• Author(s): S. David Kriska*+ and Mark C. Fulcomer and Marcia M. Sass
• Companies: Restat Systems and Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey
• Keywords: statistical literacy ; statistics curricula ; survey

Abstract

The Consortium for the Advancement of Undergraduate Statistics Education (CAUSE) and the International Statistics Project emphasize the need for statistical literacy. Definitions of literacy tend to be general statements that need to be expanded to address specific skills. This poster will present a draft survey for identifying key specific elements of literacy. The intent of the surveys will be to make comparisons of expectations held by faculty and by employers of recent graduates. The academic areas planned to be surveyed include: business, psychology, and public health. While Fulcomer, Lyke, Sass, and Kriska (2005) noted similarities in various statistics courses that cross content lines, the current effort is in identifying similarities, differences, and potentially missing elements in statistics curricula. The session will be used to encourage comments on the draft instrument.