Techniques in Teaching Statistics: Linking Research Production and Research Use

A model describing antecedents to the strength of the link between research and practice is developed and identified as essential teaching techniques to overcome the challenges inherent in teaching statistics to students enrolled in practitioner-oriented master’s degree programs.

Abstract

In the spirit of closing the "research-practice gap," the authors extend evidencebased principles to statistics instruction in social science graduate education.1 The authors employ a Delphi method to survey experienced statistics instructors to identify teaching techniques to overcome the challenges inherent in teaching statistics to students enrolled in practitioner-oriented master's degree programs. Among the teaching techniques identified as essential are using real-life examples, requiring data collection exercises, and emphasizing interpretation rather than results. Building on existing research, preliminary interviews, and the findings from the study, the authors develop a model describing antecedents to the strength of the link between research and practice.