Dimensions of Statistical Literacy

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Dimensions of Statistical Literacy

• 13 September 2006 UNECE Work Session on
  Dissemination and Communication

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Statistical literacy is an ability ...

• to understand
• to critically evaluate
• to appreciate the contributions of statistical
  thinking
• According to Katherine Wallman

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Elements of Statistical Literacy

• Social and economic concepts
• Inflation, unemployment rate, GDP, fertility,
  etc...
• Statistical way of thinking
• Statistical properties of mean median, indices,
  growth rates, etc...
• Knowledge of the research process
• Samples, data gathering, questioning techniques,
  etc..
• Understanding of different presentation modes
• Tables, graphics, text

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Elements of Statistical Literacy, cont.

• Imagination
• capacity to see behind the numbers, connecting
  different sources
• Carefulness
• checking, checking, checking

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NSI - problems in educating the public

• Only small audiences compared to the need
• Audiences are self-selected
• Many target groups with differing needs
• Exercises are difficult to organise (students
  lack of time, passivity, short courses)
• Missing pedagogical capacity

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System of statistical literacy promotion of
ordinary people, Statistics Finland
Statistics Finland
Intellectuals Politicians
Internet service
Lecturing
Lecturing
National education system Teachers
Agenda setting
Ad hoc service
Media Journalists
Basic skills of statistical literacy
Ordinary people
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How can the NSI help an ORDINARY PEOPLEs
understanding of statistics?

• Their main source of daily statistical
  information is the media
• A good web service is important, but it should
  also support understanding of statistics
• Present easy definitions linked to the
  statistical data!
• Avoid difficult statistical terminology!
• Tell how the information has been compiled!
• Use standardised and clear graphics and tables!
• Offer opportunities to exercise on the web!

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How can the NSI support the JOURNALIST to
succeed in the jungle of statistics?

• Journalists are always in a hurry, have no time
  for theoretical problems, but always have time
  for discussion and questions
• Personal contact supported with the web helps
  them best
• databank of concepts on the web
• methodological information on the web
• basic course on reading statistics (lectures,
  web)
• ad hoc courses/seminars on up-to-date themes
• ad hoc statistical support

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How can the NSI support a TEACHER to educate
people to understand statistics

• Teachers need a solid theoretical basis in
  statistical thinking, but also ready-made
  exercises
• Teaching materials on the web and tailored
  lectures (multiform teaching) seem the best
  solution
• The NSI education sector co-produce teaching
  materials
• supporting material for tutoring of a student
  (e.g. how to find statistics, to make a sample,
  etc.) on the web
• ready-made exercises on the web
• databank of concepts on the web
• easy to use models of graphics and tables on the
  web

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How can the NSI try to get INTELLECTUALS to
support the idea of statistical literacy?

• The intellectuals are highly networked and they
  live within a continuous dialogue, but you cannot
  teach them
• Networking is also the key for the NSI
• co-operation on data analysis
• invitation to write into NSI publications
• methodological seminars
• good models of tables and graphics on the web and
  in printed publications
• the NSI should take part in scientific discussion
  on relevant fields

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Attachment

• My presentation reflects the conditions of a
  small northern country and solutions found by
  Statistics Finland
• Here are some basic facts about both of them

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Finland

• POPULATION 5.26 million
• LANGUAGE 91 Finnish, 6 Swedish
• GDP EUR 155.3 billion, about EUR 30,000 per
  capita
• EMPLOYMENT RATE 68
• EXPENDITURE ON COMMUNICATION EUR 942 per
  household
• NEWSPAPERS circulation 3.228 million copies
• LIBRARIES 2,333 million borrowers
• INTERNET 2.8 million users (aged 15-74) in
  spring 2006
• EDUCATION 64 of total population completed at
  least upper secondary school

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Statistics Finland

• The National Statistical Office with about 1,000
  employees
• The tasks and autonomy defined by law
• Services among others
• 700 releases of statistics in a year
• the web service with 154,000 different visitors
  per month
• eCourse in Statistics 9 basic courses
• 30 chargeable lecture courses in a year
• 134 publications among them three periodicals
  publishing analyses and statistics