Confessing Our Sins: How Research Informs Teaching

• Activity Number: 68
• Type: Topic Contributed
• Date/Time: Sunday, August 4, 2013 : 4:00 PM to 5:50 PM
• Sponsor: Section on Teaching of Statistics in the Health Sciences
• Author(s): Deborah Dawson*+
• Companies: University of Iowa
• Keywords: statistical education ; health sciences ; research ; statistical consulting

Abstract

The purpose of this talk is to make a persuasive argument that teaching and research are complementary activities, each improving and informing the other. The consulting statistician is in an enviable position: he or she has a wealth of resources for adding wonderful illustrations - and cautionary tales - to lectures. Moreover, apt references to real-world research enable the lecturer to speak vividly and with authority, to inspire, to identify common pitfalls, and to establish the importance of statistics to every component of the research process. Teaching provides opportunities to improve research, both by extending the instructor's knowledge base, and by training the next generation of collaborators - thus improving the quality of research and closing the circle. When working with young investigators, the consulting process naturally involves a great deal of teaching - and many educational opportunities to present our profession and shape future interactions.