Giving a horse a bottle

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Giving a horse a bottle

• David Marder, Office for National Statistics, UK

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A thirsty horse and not a happy horse
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The statistical gulf
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Two courses of action

• Mass education of the public
• School programmes
• Adult literacy
• Present our statistics more understandably
• Combination of the two

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What is statistical literacy

• The ability to use statistical material to
• Interpret
• Critically evaluate
• Communicate
• Also
• Make decisions using statistics

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Professor Andrew Grieve

• Anyone living in the UK in April 2005 cannot
  fail to appreciate the need for statistical
  literacy. The election campaigns of the major
  political parties are dominated by argument and
  counter argument based on statistics. Voters
  should be able to understand both good and bad
  uses of statistics.

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stats4schools
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CensusAtSchool
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Internet
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BBC More or Less
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BBC More or Less and Open University
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Cancer Research UK
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A good thing

• Helps democracy work
• Foundation for evidence-based policy

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Making it stick?

• Trust in official statistics
• Highlighted the need to
• Increase explanation
• Enhance public education

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Suggestions from the users

• The simple visual presentation
• Proactive interpretation highlight interesting
  areas
• Train journalists how to use statistics properly
• Help people examine data critically
• Encourage a broader view less personal
  experience
• Promote a TV programme with a popular presenter
• Take away fear and the geek factor

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. . . a Happy Horse