The Role of Context Expertise When Comparing Data


Authors: 
Cynthia Langrall; Steven Nisbet; Edward Mooney; Sinchai Jansem
Volume: 
13(1&2)
Pages: 
online
Year: 
2011
Publisher: 
Mathematical Thinking and Learning
URL: 
http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/title~db=all~content=g932654185
Abstract: 

Our research addresses the role that context expertise plays when students compare data. We report findings from a study conducted in 3 countries: Australia, United States, and Thailand. In each country, six middle school students analyzed authentic data relating to selected students' areas of interest. We examined the data analysis processes and discussion among students as each country cohort worked in two groups of three, where only one group included a student with particular expertise with the data context. We found that students used context knowledge to (a) bring new insight or additional information to the task, (b) explain the data, (c) provide justification or qualification for claims, (d) identify useful data for the task at hand, and (e) state facts that may enhance the picture of the data but are irrelevant to the process of analyzing the data. Implications for practice are discussed

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