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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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 ????

10. 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 www.socsciresearch.com/r6.html

11. 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?

12. 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

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

14. 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

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

16. 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

17. 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?

18. 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!”

19. 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 ???????

20. 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

21. 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!!!!!

22. 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!

23. 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

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

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