Spreading the Data Gospel Statistical Literacy 101 Wendy

Spreading the Data Gospel: Statistical Literacy 101 Wendy Watkins Carleton University ACCOLEDS, December 2002 University of Victoria

Objectives u To develop effective strategies to increase: u statistical u data literacy use u To share ideas about data outreach u To develop a library of tools for use in class presentations and hands-on sessions ACCOLEDS, December 2002 University of Victoria

Outline u Spreading the Data Gospel u Developing general and theme-based presentations u Statistical Literacy u Tailoring u Hands-on exercises for specific audiences session ACCOLEDS, December 2002 University of Victoria

Why Spread the Data Gospel? u Increase awareness of data resources u Answer frequently asked questions before visits u Optimize the use of resources u Encourage numeracy and the use of numeric evidence in arguments ACCOLEDS, December 2002 University of Victoria

Ways to Spread the Gospel u In-class presentations u Workshops u Newsletters u Web-based publicity u University lists u University communications u Handouts ACCOLEDS, December 2002 University of Victoria

Gospel Chapters: Parts of a Generic Presentation u Data Sources u Immediate collection u Other sources u Web links u Services u Contacts and hours ACCOLEDS, December 2002 University of Victoria

Data Sources u Immediate collection u DLI u DMTI (if you are a member) u ICPSR (if you are a member) u On-line numeric databases u Other local, provincial, national and foreign sources ACCOLEDS, December 2002 University of Victoria

Data Sources (cont’d) u What you can obtain from others (for free!) u Public Opinion u. Gallup, POLLARA - Carleton u. Angus Reid - UBC u. Canadian Information Office - Nat Stone u Canadian Election Studies - ISR at York u ISSP - Carleton u All Alberta surveys (Uof. A) u Heart-health data ACCOLEDS, December 2002 University of Victoria

Data Sources (cont’d) u Data you can obtain (for a fee) u United Nations u OECD u Financial and stock data bases u ? ? ACCOLEDS, December 2002 University of Victoria

Web links u Your datacentre u Other Canadian datacentres u Foreign data archives u Best overall source: u Craig Mc. Kie: Research Resources for the Social Sciences: Data Archives www. socsciresearch. com/r 6. html ACCOLEDS, December 2002 University of Victoria

Services u Data services u Straight pass-through on request? u Assisted searching for sources? u Subsetting? u Statistical formats? u Consulting? u Data and/or statistics? u Research methods? u Commercial clientelle? ACCOLEDS, December 2002 University of Victoria

Contacts and Hours u Location u Mailing address, telephone, fax u E-mail address of service u Hours of operation u Web address ACCOLEDS, December 2002 University of Victoria

Statistics and Data • numeric files created and organized for Statistics ACCOLEDS, December 2002 University of Victoria

Statistical Literacy “The ability to look at and understand basic statistics critically. . . critical thinking about arguments that use statistics as evidence. ” Milo Schield ACCOLEDS, December 2002 University of Victoria

Statistical Literacy 101 u Statistics before data? u Whatever was she thinking? ACCOLEDS, December 2002 University of Victoria

Why Statistics before Data? u Many groups are number shy u Not ready for data u Can intuitively understand numeric arguments u If they can be comfortable here, they’ll run out of ‘canned’ answers, and … u … lead themselves to the data ACCOLEDS, December 2002 University of Victoria

Our Role u Promotion, not instruction u Introduction to the use of numerical/statistical evidence u Give simple examples: u Height and weight are related u Heavier people tend to be taller u If I gain weight, can I expect to grow height? ACCOLEDS, December 2002 University of Victoria in

Another Example u Two hunters and a bear u Bear can run twice as fast as hunters u Innumerate hunter: “ We’re cooked” u Numerate hunter: “Not if I can outrun you!” ACCOLEDS, December 2002 University of Victoria

Find Data Gems u GSS - Time Use u Which group has LEAST leisure time? u Draw out the answers u Gender - female u Family status - single parent, small kids u Which group has MOST leisure time? u ? ? ? ? ACCOLEDS, December 2002 University of Victoria

Context, Context u Developing statistical literacy depends, at first, on intuitive understanding, NOT statistical expertise u Use examples and exercises geared to the class u Nurses u Investigative ACCOLEDS, December 2002 University of Victoria journalism

Tips for Creating Exercises u KISS rules! u Need u Choose to ensure success for all easily-manipulated databases u CANSIM, E-STAT u Community Profiles u Pared-down B 20/20 tables u Ask questions requiring analysis u Make them think!!!!! ACCOLEDS, December 2002 University of Victoria

In other words …. . u Ask leading questions u Give provocative explanations for ordinary findings u Suggest the impossible u Promote the improbable u Encourage dissent! ACCOLEDS, December 2002 University of Victoria

What to Expect from Classes u Undergraduates u Need to coax participation u Data dentistry u Graduates u Have a lot of questions u Eager, eager u Encourage a range of opinion with explanations ACCOLEDS, December 2002 University of Victoria

Sharing Experiences u Triumphs and Disasters ACCOLEDS, December 2002 University of Victoria

Sharing Experiences u Success u stories What worked for you? u Recovery u What strategies worked for you? ACCOLEDS, December 2002 University of Victoria