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Dollars and Sense: Convincing Students that They Can Learn and Want to Learn Statistics
- Source :
-
Teaching Sociology . Jan 2006 34(1):65-70. - Publication Year :
- 2006
-
Abstract
- Quantitative methods are an integral part of much sociological research. For that reason, many sociology departments require a course in statistics as part of an undergraduate major in sociology, and most faculty view the undergraduate statistics course as a valuable part of an undergraduate student's training in sociology. Unfortunately, most undergraduate do not feel the same. In this paper, the author presents a teaching technique designed to motivate students to learn statistics, from the very first class period. In this technique, the author gives students a list of common first occupations for people with a BA in sociology, their starting salaries, and whether the occupation uses statistics or not. The goals of the technique are threefold: (1) to convince students that statistics is a worthwhile subject to learn; (2) to reduce student anxiety by having students demonstrate to themselves that they can "do" statistics, even before a single lecture is completed; and (3) to provide an example that can be used throughout the semester to illustrate multiple statistical techniques. (Contains 1 table.)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0092-055X
- Volume :
- 34
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- ERIC
- Journal :
- Teaching Sociology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- EJ890712
- Document Type :
- Journal Articles<br />Reports - Descriptive
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1177/0092055X0603400106