Engaging and motivating students in undergraduate statistics courses can be enhanced by using topical peer-reviewed publications for analyses as part of course assignments. Given the popularity of on-campus therapy dog stress-reduction programs, this topic fosters buy-in from students whilst providing information regarding the importance of mental health and well-being as it impacts learning. This paper describes how instructors can use a study on the benefits of human–dog interactions to teach students about study design, data collection and ethics, and hypothesis testing. The data and research questions are accessible to students without requiring detailed subject-area knowledge. Students can think carefully about how to collect and analyze data from a randomized controlled trial with two-sample hypothesis tests. Instructors can use these data for short in-class examples or longer assignments and assessments, and throughout this article, we suggest activities and discussion questions.

Our recent research focuses on integrating Culturally Relevant Data into statistics and data science education. We’ve developed methods that connect coursework directly to students’ lived experiences, significantly enhancing engagement and understanding, particularly for those from historically marginalized groups. Our approach bridges the gap between theoretical data science and real-world application, making learning both accessible and impactful. Initial results from pilot courses are promising, and we are excited about the potential to further transform how data science is taught. Join us in making data science education more inclusive and effective for everyone

This worksheet is an introductory statistics activity which uses data from passengers on the Titanic to invite discussions about bias-recognizing it, acknowledging it, and even harnessing it, amongst students. In addition, there are suggestions for expansions of this activity and more details on the underpinning JEDI themes.