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Activity Number:
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385
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Type:
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Contributed
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Date/Time:
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Wednesday, August 1, 2007 : 8:30 AM to 10:20 AM
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Sponsor:
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Section on Statistical Education
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| Abstract - #309422 |
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Title:
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Misconceptions in Interpreting Center and Variability in Graphical Representations
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Author(s):
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Linda Cooper*+ and Felice Shore
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Companies:
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Towson University and Towson University
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Address:
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Mathematics Department, Towson, MD, 21252-0001,
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Keywords:
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misconceptions ; graphs ; introductory statistics ; mean ; median ; variability
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Abstract:
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This paper will identify and discuss misconceptions that students have in making judgments of center and variability when data is presented graphically. An assessment addressing interpreting center and variability in histograms and stem-and-leaf plots was administered to undergraduates enrolled in introductory statistics courses, including prospective elementary and secondary teachers. In particular, discussions will focus upon comparing the variability of two data sets of common range represented by bell-shaped histograms on common scales, and in comparing the relative location of the mean and median on a histogram from skewed data. When the exact values of the data were available in stem-and-leaf plot representation, students were more successful at computing the mean and median values. Results of the assessment questions and subsequent implications for instruction will be discussed.
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