Learning the language of statistics: challenges and teaching approaches

Article

Dunn, Peter K., Carey, Michael D., Richardson, Alice M. and McDonald, Christine. 2016. "Learning the language of statistics: challenges and teaching approaches." Statistics Education Research Journal. 15 (1), pp. 8-27.
Article Title

Learning the language of statistics: challenges and teaching approaches

ERA Journal ID20506
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsDunn, Peter K. (Author), Carey, Michael D. (Author), Richardson, Alice M. (Author) and McDonald, Christine (Author)
Journal TitleStatistics Education Research Journal
Journal Citation15 (1), pp. 8-27
Number of Pages20
Year2016
Place of PublicationNetherlands
ISSN1570-1824
Web Address (URL)http://iase-web.org/documents/SERJ/SERJ15(1)_Dunn.pdf
Abstract

Learning statistics requires learning the language of statistics. Statistics draws upon words from general English, mathematical English, discipline-specific English and words used primarily in statistics. This leads to many linguistic challenges in teaching statistics and the way in which the language is used in statistics creates an extra layer. This paper identifies many challenges in teaching statistics related to language and the use of language. Some implications for the effective learning and teaching of statistics are raised and methods to help students overcome these linguistic challenges are suggested.

Keywordsstatistics education research, undergraduate students, discipline language, teaching practice
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020390199. Curriculum and pedagogy not elsewhere classified
390499. Specialist studies in education not elsewhere classified
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Institution of OriginUniversity of Southern Queensland
Byline AffiliationsUniversity of the Sunshine Coast
University of Canberra
School of Agricultural, Computational and Environmental Sciences
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https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q3952/learning-the-language-of-statistics-challenges-and-teaching-approaches

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