Royal Statistical Society
Centre for Statistical Education

About | Activities | Resources | News | Links

Activities

School and Further Education

AtSchool Projects

Teaching Statistics at Secondary Level

QCA - RSS Centre Review of Handling Data and Statistics in GCSE Mathematics

Higher Education

Teaching Statistics in Higher Education

The Day Break Programme

Higher Education Academy Maths, Stats & OR Network

ViSA

Previous Activities

You are here: Homepage > Activities > World Numeracy Programme - Terminology

World Numeracy Programme - Terminology

Discussion about Terminology

An early point of discussion that emerged within the network concerned the nature of the numeracy that the group were seeking to promote.   Ideas about what constitutes numeracy are not universal.  Nor is it clear that the term 'numeracy' would be seen as lying within the Internal Statistical (as opposed to Mathematical) Institute's remit.  The question about whether the network should be seen to be concerned with 'numeracy' or with 'statistical literacy' predictably produced a number of differing views. Nor was this distinction the only one to emerge. Some of the observations are summarised below.

Contributions to the Debate on Terminology

Peter Holmes (University of Nottingham, UK) pointed out that the generally higher level of acceptance for the term ‘numeracy’ makes it an important attention-getter. However, statistical literacy is a part of numeracy, and indeed a very large part, something which is often overlooked by those focusing on numeracy. I therefore tend to use the term ‘statistical numeracy’ as a form of double insurance.

Iddo Gal (Haifa University, Israel) One way in which I can contribute to this effort early on is by taking part in the clarification of the scope of the concept ‘numeracy’ and the distinctions between, this and ‘statistical literacy’.  There are clear distinctions between interpretative and generative tasks and related skills. Numeracy encompasses all of them, while statistical literacy is restricted mainly to interpretative issues. I would support a move to rename the initiative The World Statistical Literacy Programme (as distinct from The World Numeracy Programme). Iddo has agreed to a draft version of one of his articles on this subject being posted here for comment.

Marcel Van den Broecke (International statistical Institute, Netherlands) I have no strong feelings that ‘numeracy’ should be replaced by ‘statistical literacy’. It depends in the first place on the question how firmly the term ‘numeracy’ has already established itself in this context.

Giuseppe Cicchitelli (University of Perugia, Italy) The title ‘World Statistical Literacy Programme’ is certainly more specific; numeracy might be associated with mathematics, although many numerical issues deal with ‘numbers in a context’ and then are statistical issues.

John Truran (University of Adelaide, Australia) ‘Numeracy’ is the mind-set which will employ numbers in real-life situations when they are appropriate. This is an empowering mind-set which can lead to greater efficiency. It is important to acknowledge that many successful people get by without doing so and without too many disasters. I emphasise that many people who have adequate numerical & reading skills do not employ them in many situations where they are relevant.

Statistical literacy is one aspect of this general numeracy. It is a particularly difficult aspect because the precision of stochastic parameters is much less than in other fields. There is probably also less general knowledge of the facts used in statistical interpretation than in straight numerical interpretation.

My inclination is that because these issues are issues of attitude/mind-set first, and knowledge second, that numeracy is best treated as a whole, and statistical literacy treated as a subset. But I know no research in this field. There is plenty of research which suggests that for adults coming back to it all the attitudes to straight numbers and statistics are pretty similar.

Dr I Chacko (University of Goroka, Papua New Guinea) To me, ‘numeracy’ is the broader term. Statistical literacy is a part of numeracy. But if the ISI is to co-ordinate then World Statistical Literacy Programme is a more appropriate name. Is it not possible to bring in World Statistical Literacy Programme into World Numeracy Programme? Is numeracy not basic to Statistical Literacy?

Nanjamma Chinnappa (Bangalore, India) I certainly prefer the title ‘World Statistical Literacy Programme’ because that is specific and clear. Also, ISI is concerned with Statistical Literacy. However, I realise that for many, numeracy includes both mathematical and statistical literacy. For example, John Allan Paulos in his book Innumeracy- mathematical illiteracy and its consequences defines innumeracy as an ‘inability to deal comfortably with the fundamental notions of number and chance’. He says his approach is ‘generally mathematical, using some elementary ideas from probability and statistics….....’. Often people use numeracy, statistical literacy and quantitative literacy interchangeably.

Chris Heyde (ANU, Australia) It seems to me that although ISI’s principal focus would naturally be on issues that might be called a World Statistical Literacy Programme, that this does not really stand alone from a World Numeracy Programme. It is a natural component thereof.  

Page last updated 04/04/2005. You are visitor number 18 to this page since 18 April 2005. Contact us.