Session: 'Statistics Anxiety' A Fairy Tale For Our Times?

Time: Wednesday 6th July, 09:15 - 10:45

Convenors:

Professor John MacInnes (University of Edinburgh)
Dr Kevin Ralston (University of Edinburgh)

Abstract Details

This session reviews:
We review some of the experience of Q-Step centres and elsewhere on 'what works' when teaching quantitative methods to different types of social science student and at different stages of their university career.

The we look at more formal research on 'statistics anxiety' and students' orientation to statistics. We typically assume that social science students are anxious, confused or intimidated by numbers. However this is far more 'common wisdom' than anything that any robust empirical research has demonstrated. Is 'stats anxiety' an (extremely convenient) myth? We present some new evidence.

Presentation downloads

Presenter: John MacInnes

Statistics Anxiety: Two pilot studies

Presenter: Kevin Ralston

'Statistics Anxiety' A Fairy Tale For Our Times?

The level of the session is: Accessible

Presentation details

Presentation 1

Start time: 09:15

Presentation title: Statistics anxiety: some empirical evidence from the UK

Presenters:

Professor John MacInnes (University of Edinburgh)
Dr Kevin Ralston (University of Edinburgh)