ERIC Number: EJ890712
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006-Jan
Pages: 6
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0092-055X
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Dollars and Sense: Convincing Students that They Can Learn and Want to Learn Statistics
Paxton, Pamela
Teaching Sociology, v34 n1 p65-70 Jan 2006
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.)
Descriptors: Statistical Analysis, Required Courses, Undergraduate Students, Sociology, Majors (Students), Student Attitudes, Anxiety, Self Efficacy, Student Motivation, Teaching Methods, Relevance (Education), Salary Wage Differentials
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A