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Description of  Statistical Literacy at School: Growth and Goals (Studies in Mathematical Thinking and Learning Series)

This book reveals the development of students' understanding of statistical literacy. It provides a way to "see" student thinking and gives readers a deeper sense of how students think about important statistical topics. Intended as a complement to curriculum documents and textbook series, it is consistent with the current principles and standards of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. The term "statistical literacy" is used to emphasize that the purpose of the school curriculum should not be to turn out statisticians but to prepare statistically literate school graduates who are prepared to participate in social decision making. Based on ten years of research with reference to other significant research as appropriate the book looks at students' thinking in relation to tasks based on sampling, graphical representations, averages, chance, beginning inference, and variation, which are essential to later work in formal statistics. For those students who do not proceed to formal study, as well as those who do, these concepts provide a basis for decision making or questioning when presented with claims based on data in societal settings. Read more