News-based learning of statistics.


Book: 
Proceedings of the Seventh International Conference On Teaching Statistics (ICOTS-7), Salvador, Brazil.
Authors: 
Fung, W. K., & Yu, P. L. H.
Editors: 
Rossman, A., & Chance, B.
Category: 
Year: 
2006
Publisher: 
Voorburg, The Netherlands: International Statistical Institute.
URL: 
http://www.stat.auckland.ac.nz/~iase/publications/17/8A2_FUNG.pdf
Abstract: 

Almost every day we come across statistics in our newspapers. Understanding these figures correctly not only gives us a better understanding of our social environment but also helps to prevent us from being taken in by misleading advertisements. This project investigates the teaching and learning of statistics through the use of statistical figures commonly found in newspapers and other mass media. These statistics have been used in specially designed courses such as "How to Read Figures in the Newspapers," a general education course offered to undergraduate students with or without a statistics background. Students find the topics interesting and appreciate the wide-ranging applications of statistics in different areas.

The CAUSE Research Group is supported in part by a member initiative grant from the American Statistical Association’s Section on Statistics and Data Science Education