Statistics in context

Judging statistical claims in social contexts is fundamental to statistical literacy. This article uses a particularly contentious newspaper report that makes a cause-and-effect claim as the basis for discussing this important aspect of statistical understanding. The issue's relevance across the school curriculum is shown by extracts from curriculum documents. Teachers need to structure experiences to build ability to question claims made without proper justification. This article suggests a hierarchy to help teachers plan for and assess student learning in this area, and it closes with a plea for teachers to cooperate across subjects to achieve results.