International Statistical Literacy Project
Improving Statistical Literacy
by National and
International Cooperation
International Statistical Literacy Project
Key points
• Advancing the use of statistical data as the base for
various projects
• Arenas of data use
– attention to different users and user groups
• Learning from the practices of others
– cooperation projects – how to combine competence
resources
– best practices – models for product development
• Conclusions
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International Statistical Literacy Project
Why is statistical literacy needed?
• Statistical literacy is the ability to read and
interpret summary statistics in the everyday
media: in graphs, tables, statements, surveys and
studies. Statistical literacy is needed by data
consumers (Milo Schield).
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International Statistical Literacy Project
The strategic objective of a national statistical
agency is to advance the use of statistics
• Statistics find and increase their meaning through their use
– Only when used is information useful
• The existence and reliability of a statistical agency is based
on users' willingness and need to use statistics
– Different users have different needs and skills in acquiring
and understanding statistical data
– Segmented services will be more and more in focus
– Services supporting the use of statistics are increasingly
important
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International Statistical Literacy Project
ISLP around the world
• The mission of the International Statistical Literacy
Project (ISLP) is to support, create and participate in
statistical literacy activities and promotion around
the world
• The main aim will be contributing to statistical
literacy across the world, among young and adults, in
all phases of life
• Another aim is to bring together different actors:
producers of statistics, statisticians, users
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International Statistical Literacy Project
Arenas of data use
I
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International Statistical Literacy Project
Model: Arenas of the publicity of
science
Scientific
community
Professions
Public
administration
Education
Science
Politics
Culture
Civic society
Commercial
markets
Source: Väliverronen (2003)
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International Statistical Literacy Project
Example on segmenting users at the
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)
• School Students (both primary and secondary)
• Tertiary Students (including university and vocational
education students and teachers/lecturers)
• Opinion Leaders (including journalists)
• Decision Makers (including politicians, political
advisors and government employees)
• General Community (including small
business/community groups)
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International Statistical Literacy Project
Example on segmenting users
at the ABS
• Data needs and skill levels of segments presented on
a three-step scale
– Basic literacy
– Intermediate literacy
– Advanced literacy
• One segment can have users from different levels
=> attention to this in product development
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International Statistical Literacy Project
Bringing forth strategic groups:
Statistics Finland
• Creation of a stakeholder policy to steer activity
• Checking the focuses of stakeholders and customer work
at certain intervals
• At the core of activities in 2010:
– Research institutes and development of researcher
services
• Targets for segmented activity:
– Educational institutions
– The media
– Enterprises
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International Statistical Literacy Project
ISLP – models for increasing the use
of statistical data
• Aims to:
–
–
–
–
Pay attention to different target groups
Develop various activities
Use different media (technical, social)
Organise activity and apply models globally together
with national ISLP coordinators
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International Statistical Literacy Project
ISLP – target groups for advancing the
use of statistics
Scientific
community??
Educational
instutions
Professions??
Public
administration
??
Statistial
Literacy
Decision
makers??
Media
Libraries
Citizens
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International Statistical Literacy Project
Cooperation projects – combining
resources and competence
I
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International Statistical Literacy Project
CensusAtSchool
• Aims to
– Encourage children to get involved
with data handling and learn statistical skills
– Provide real data for data handling activities
– Increase awareness of national censuses
– Show how information and communication technology
(ICT) can be used effectively to enhance teaching and
learning especially in the area of data handling
• Running in the UK, Ireland, South Africa, Canada,
New Zealand and Australia
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International Statistical Literacy Project
CAUSEweb.org
• CAUSE is a national organisation whose mission is to
support and advance undergraduate statistics
education in four target areas: resources,
professional development, outreach and research
• Resources listed by material type
– Goal: collect, review, develop, and disseminate
resources for members of the undergraduate statistics
education community
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International Statistical Literacy Project
CAUSEweb.org
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Lecture Examples: Lesson modules for lecturers
Laboratories: Computer and hands-on activities
Out-of-class: Homework, projects, and distance learning materials
Teaching Methods: Classroom pedagogy and logistics
Datasets: Data and how to use it
Analysis Tools: Software and on-line tools
Curriculum: Syllabus issues and sources of statistics conten.
Fun: Cartoons, statistical art, jokes, poems, word puzzles, quotes,
songs, and videos for instructional use
• Building Blocks: Unattached components for modular use
• Multimedia: Video, sound, and animations
• Advising: careers, graduate schools, opportunities for students
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International Statistical Literacy Project
www.statlit.org
• The site aims to:
– Present statistical literacy as an interdisciplinary
activity
– Feature books, papers and activities related to
statistical literacy – taken broadly from a variety of
disciplines
– Present statistical literacy as useful in everyday
arguments
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International Statistical Literacy Project
eCourse in Statistics
• A joint project between the National Statistics Office of
Malte, University of Hagen (Germany) and
Statistics Finland
• Further developed on the basis of Statistics Finland´s
e-learning materials
• Target group: young adults
• Examples from the EU area aiming at extensive use of the
service in different countries
• New cooperation partners/actors wanted to develop the
service
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International Statistical Literacy Project
eCourse in Statistics
http://www.fernuni-hagen.de/statliteracy/
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International Statistical Literacy Project
ISLP – Statistical Literacy Competitions
• Objectives
– To advance the understanding and use of statistics in
educational institutions
– To create networks between teaching of statistical science,
national statistical agencies and educational institutions
– To use the competition format all over the world
– The next competition to be launched in September 2010.
Further information at the ISLP site.
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International Statistical Literacy Project
Examples of best practices – models
for product development
I
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International Statistical Literacy Project
Serving the media in a user-friendly way:
as an example Statistics Canada
• Offering different service modes for the same target
group
–
–
–
–
–
Media Hotline – ad hoc service for the media
Media Room – Internet site directed to the media
The Daily – release bulletin
Training
Assistance in story contents and news making
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International Statistical Literacy Project
Content development of the web
service together with educational
institution users: as an example Alea
• Aims at providing both teachers and students of secondary
education with teaching materials for the study of statistics
• A joint idea of Statistics Portugal and Tomaz Pelayo
Secondary School, bringing together The Portuguese
Ministry of Education, through its Northern Regional
Education Department (DREN).
• A good example of networking with key interest groups
• Ensures that the contents of the service meets the needs
of users
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International Statistical Literacy Project
Opening of statistics to data users:
as an example Understanding of Statistics
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International Statistical Literacy Project
Conclusions
I
P
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International Statistical Literacy Project
Conclusions
• What is statistics for?
– Citizen’s right to understand and use the information
produced by society is the basis of a democratic
society
– Anybody can be a user of statistics - from random
users to major users
– Impartial and easy availability of statistical data for all
subsections of society
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International Statistical Literacy Project
Conclusions
• Development of services in cooperation with interest
group representatives
– Charting of data needs
– Developing products on that basis
• Timeliness, clearness, understandability
• Data produced in the form agreed, usefulness of
expertise to customers
• Production of services in cooperation with statistical
experts in the field
– Networking
– Sharing of competence and resources
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International Statistical Literacy Project
Conclusions
• Increasing cooperation to enhance statistical literacy
and user skills
Statisticians
National statistical agencies
Statistical societies
Users
Internationalorganisations
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