Statistics Basics the Foundation of Research Design

Statistics Basics:The Foundation of Research Design

Copyright, 2007 www.psychnstatstutor [email protected] Char Paul (B.Psych.Hons;GC Tert Teach)1

What’s the point of stats in the Social Sciences?

• Statistics is of benefit to professional roles in psychology, social work,

management, human resources, and education because our decisions are

grounded in empirical research.

(Boundless Statistics, n.d.)

• Whilst statistics don’t “prove” anything, it is a language that enables us to

support/refute a conclusion (an argument), and sometimes to discover

something not thought of before.

Copyright, 2007 www.psychnstatstutor [email protected] Char Paul (B.Psych.Hons;GC Tert Teach) 2


• Statistical language helps us to summarise large quantities of data, so that

we can talk meaningfully about it.

• Stats helps us to identify patterns, to find explanations for those patterns,

and to apply knowledge about those patterns, such as making predictions.

The Best Stats You’ve Ever Seen

(Rosling, n.d.)

• Research journals in the social sciences report statistics about

interventions and best practices. Knowledge of stats enables you to

determine what research is done well (rigorous) and worth applying with

your clients.


ed.ted.com/lessons/hans-rosling-shows-the-best-stats-you-ve-ever-seen



(American Psychological Association, 2015, p. 3)



Cornell University recently shared ‘Why Statistics’ feedback from

recruiters attending the ILR Job Fair:

http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/academics/academic-departments/social-statistics/why-statistics

http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/academics/academic-departments/social-statistics/why-statistics


The Number 1 Hottest Skill on Linked In, 2014

that got people hired was…


http://blog.linkedin.com/2014/12/17/the-25-hottest-skills-that-got-people-hired-in-2014/

http://blog.linkedin.com/2014/12/17/the-25-hottest-skills-that-got-people-hired-in-2014/


Literature in the field of statistics has explored the question also:

Brennan, T. (2006). Statistics: Some myths debunked. Psychologist, 9(2), p. 103

Retrieved from, https://thepsychologist.bps.org.uk/volume-

19/edition-2/students

Sowey, E. R. (2006). Letting students understand why statistics is worth

studying. Retrieved from,

http://www.ime.usp.br/~abe/ICOTS7/Proceedings/PDFs/Invited

Papers/3A1_SOWE.pdf

Statistical Society of Australia Inc. (2005). Statistics at Australian

universities: An SSAI-sponsored review. Retrieved from,

http://www.statsoc.org.au/wpcontent/uploads/2013/06/ReviewofS

tatsFinalReport.pdf ?d7c5d9


, https:/thepsychologist.bps.org.uk/volume-%0919/edition-2/students

http://www.ime.usp.br/~abe/ICOTS7/Proceedings/PDFs/Invited%09Papers/3A1_SOWE.pdf

http://www.statsoc.org.au/wpcontent/uploads/2013/06/ReviewofStatsFinalReport.pdf?d7c5d9

Live it!


http://clickclackkindergarten.blogspot.com.au/2015/09/weather-and-temperature-data-collection.html

http://clickclackkindergarten.blogspot.com.au/2015/09/weather-and-temperature-data-collection.html

Live it!

• Discover your Learning Style:

http://www.educationplanner.org/students/self-assessments/learning-

styles.shtml

• Create a Stats Journal, in whatever form suits you. This will enable you to

keep our lecture and tutorial materials together with your critical

reflections and personal data collection:

http://www.peicpt.com/sitefiles/File/Portfolio/LearningJournal.pdf

• Collect your own data! To makes your learnings more relevant and less

abstract. Here are some ideas gathered from other students across ages,

disciplines and abilities:

https://www.pinterest.com/explore/student-data-collection/


http://www.educationplanner.org/students/self-assessments/learning-styles.shtml

http://www.peicpt.com/sitefiles/File/Portfolio/LearningJournal.pdf

https://www.pinterest.com/explore/student-data-collection/

• What are your career goals for your social science degree?

• How will statistics and research design help you to meet these goals?

• What do I hope to take away from my stats course this semester?

• What do I feel are my main areas of weakness in statistics?

• What do I feel are my main areas of strength in statistics?

• What grade do I intend to achieve for my statistics course?

• What strategies will I use to achieve my intended outcomes?

• How will I recognise that my goals have been met?

• Draw a smiley face that best represents your current mood:


Live it!

Live it!

Read and put into practice! Some links require you to use your uni database or

an interlibrary loan to extract the article. Read and apply!

Edirisooriya, G. (2003). The gourmet guide to statistics: For an instructional

strategy that makes teaching and learning statistics a piece of cake.

Teaching Statistics, 2 Retrieved from 5(1), 2-5. Retrieved from

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/230132617_The_Gourm

et_Guide_to_Statistics_For_an_Instructional_Strategy_That_Make

s_Teaching_and_Learning_Statistics_a_Piece_of_Cake

Hunt, N. (2010).Using mnemonics in teaching statistics. Teaching Statistics,

32(3), 73-75. Retrieved from,

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/229621816_Using_Mne

monics_in_Teaching_Statistics

11

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/230132617_The_Gourm

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/229621816_Using_Mne

Live it!

Keeling, K. (2011). Employing Introductory Statistics Students at ‘Stats

Dairy’. Teaching Statistics, 33(3), 78-80.Retrieved from,

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-

9639.2010.00429.x/abstract

Mvududu, N. & Kanyongo, G. Y. (2011). Using real life examples to teach

abstract statistical concepts. Teaching Statistics, 33(1), 12-16. DOI:

10.1111/j.1467-9639.2009.00404.x

12

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-

Live it!• Make a video! Create an anagram or write a song or poem

http://www.causeweb.org/resources/fun/index.php?tab=video&cat=All

%20Categories

• Play games

http://www.learninggamesforkids.com/4th-grade-math/data-statistics-

4th.html

http://www.onlinemathlearning.com/statistics-games.html

http://jmathpage.com/middleschoolmath/jmsmstatisticsprobability.html

13

http://www.learninggamesforkids.com/4th-grade-math/data-statistics-4th.html

http://www.onlinemathlearning.com/statistics-games.html

http://jmathpage.com/middleschoolmath/jmsmstatisticsprobability.html

References

American Psychological Association. (2015). Coalition for psychology in

schools and education. Top 20 principles from psychology

for preK–12 teaching and learning. Retrieved from http://

www.apa.org/ed/schools/cpse/top-twenty-principles.pdf

Boundless Statistics Textbook. (n.d.). Boundless statistics textbook. Retrieved

from, https://www.boundless.com/statistics/textbooks/boundless

-statistics-textbook/

Howell, D. C. (1997). Statistical methods for psychology, 4th ed. Belmont, CA:

Duxbury Press.

Rosling, H. (n.d.). Ed TED: the best stats you’ve ever seen. Retrieved from,

http://ed.ted.com/lessons/hans-rosling-shows-the-best-stats-you-

ve-ever-seen


http://www.apa.org/ed/schools/cpse/top-twenty-principles.pdf

https://www.boundless.com/statistics/textbooks/boundless

http://ed.ted.com/lessons/hans-rosling-shows-the-best-stats-you-

Education

Statistics Basics the Foundation of Research Design