Using Action Research to Develop a Course in Statistical Inference for Workplace-Based Adults

Autor/in	Forbes, Sharleen
Titel	Using Action Research to Develop a Course in Statistical Inference for Workplace-Based Adults
Quelle	In: Journal of Statistics Education, 22 (2014) 3, (29 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1069-1898
Schlagwörter	Workplace Learning; Curriculum Development; Action Research; Inferences; Statistics; Adult Students; Mathematical Concepts; Concept Teaching; Computer Simulation; Hands on Science; Probability; Statistical Data; Evidence; Needs Assessment; Teaching Methods; Foreign Countries; Course Descriptions; Course Content; Educational Practices; New Zealand + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Curriculum; Development; Curriculumentwicklung; Lehrplan; Entwicklung; Projektforschung; Inference; Inferenz; Statistik; Adult; Adults; Student; Students; Erwachsenenalter; Studentin; Schüler; Schülerin; Computergrafik; Computersimulation; Wahrscheinlichkeitsrechnung; Wahrscheinlichkeitstheorie; Evidenz; Bedarfsermittlung; Teaching method; Lehrmethode; Unterrichtsmethode; Ausland; Kursstrukturplan; Kursprogramm; Bildungspraxis; Neuseeland
Abstract	Many adults who need an understanding of statistical concepts have limited mathematical skills. They need a teaching approach that includes as little mathematical context as possible. Iterative participatory qualitative research (action research) was used to develop a statistical literacy course for adult learners informed by teaching in traditional first year university courses, workplace based training, teacher workshops and Masters of Public Policy courses. The latter learners in particular regularly come across confidence intervals and statistical significance in their everyday reading. The goal is to give them a conceptual rather than theoretical understanding of inferential concepts by developing inferential statistics logic through the introduction of exact probabilities in simple non-parametric tests (two-tailed coin tossing) and then contingency tables and parametric situations. The final course developed for the New Zealand Certificate of Official Statistics uses "hands-on" examples to reinforce concepts before proceeding to computer simulations. It emphasizes evaluation of the strength of statistical significance and its relationship to the possible cost of making an incorrect decision. Case studies that have influenced government policy reinforce inferential concepts and demonstrate the importance of statistics in complex real problems. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	American Statistical Association. 732 North Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. Tel: 703-684-1221; Tel: 888-231-3473; Fax: 703-684-2037; e-mail: asainfo@amstat.org; Web site: http://www.amstat.org/publications/jse
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10