 |
An International Journal for Teachers |
|
Contents of 29-2 (Summer 2007)
Estimating Mortality in War-Time Iraq: A Controversial Survey with
Important Lessons for Students: P33. Fernando De Maio
In teaching introductory quantitative methods in sociology, I have used a controversial
survey of mortality in Iraq before and after the 2003 invasion to highlight
to students the power of simple questionnaires, the role of ambiguity in statistics
and the place of politics in the framing of statistical results. This brief
report summarizes Roberts et al.’s (2004) estimate that the invasion of
Iraq resulted in 98,000 (95% CI = 8000 – 194,000) deaths, as well as the
intriguing reaction that the survey received in the press. Statistics teachers
should find the Roberts et al. study to be an effective way to introduce students
to more controversial – and political – aspects of statistical research.
Individualized Statistics Coursework Using Spreadsheets .
P38. Neville Hunt
This article describes how a spreadsheet-based tool can be used to allocate
each student in a class a unique subset of a large set of data, as the basis
for a statistical assignment.
Teaching Statistics – Despite Its Applications P44.
Jim Ridgway, James Nicholson and Sean McCusker
Evidence-based policy requires sophisticated modelling and reasoning about complex
social data. The current UK statistics curricula do not equip tomorrow’s
citizens to understand such reasoning. We advocate radical curriculum reform,
designed to require students to reason from complex data.
Clasping Hands and Folding Arms: A Data Investigation P49.
Helen MacGillivray
This is the first of a series on data investigations in which the cycle of issues,
planning, collecting, exploring, interpreting and discussing is reported for
selected data investigations, with the data sets available on the Blackwell
repository. The motivating issues for the investigation of this report were
the manner in which people clasp their hands and fold their arms. The data set
yields some interesting aspects for students, for teaching and for future or
further investigations, and illustrates the needs for systematic and thoughtful
exploration of data.
Standard Distributions: One Graph Fits All P54. Clifford
H. Wagner
Standard distributions are ubiquitous but not unique. With suitable scaling,
the graph of a standard distribution serves as the graph for every distribution
in the family. The standard exponential can easily be taught in elementary statistics
courses.
Measuring Marbles: Demonstrating the Basic Tenets of Measurement Theory
P57. Steven R. Wininger
A hands-on activity is described in which students attempt to measure something
that they cannot see. In small groups, students estimate the number of marbles
in sealed boxes. Next, students’ estimates are compared with the actual
numbers. Last, values from both the students’ estimates and actual numbers
are used to explain measurement theory and reliability.
Statistical Diversions. P60. Peter Petocz and Eric Sowey
The regular column in Teaching Statistics to get you thinking.
Please email: alison.davies2@ntu.ac.uk with any comments or corrections.
©
The Teaching Statistics Trust 2006. The Teaching Statistics Trust is a registered
charity.
ISSN 0141-982X (Print) ISSN 1467-9639 (Online)