ACCOLEDS, December 2002 University of Victoria 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 literacy u data 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 exercises for specific audiences u Hands-on 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 (UofA) 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 McKie: Research Resources for the Social Sciences: Data Archives

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 address of service u Hours of operation u Web address

ACCOLEDS, December 2002 University of Victoria Statistics and Data 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 in height?

ACCOLEDS, December 2002 University of Victoria 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, 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 journalism

ACCOLEDS, December 2002 University of Victoria Tips for Creating Exercises u KISS rules! u Need to ensure success for all u Choose easily-manipulated databases u CANSIM, E-STAT u Community Profiles u Pared-down B20/20 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, 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 stories u What worked for you? u Recovery strategies u What worked for you?