ERIC Number: EJ1160595
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017-Dec
Pages: 19
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1077-6958
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Available Date: N/A
A Census of Statistics Requirements at U.S. Journalism Programs and a Model for a "Statistics for Journalism" Course
Martin, Justin D.
Journalism and Mass Communication Educator, v72 n4 p461-479 Dec 2017
This essay presents data from a census of statistics requirements and offerings at all 4-year journalism programs in the United States (N = 369) and proposes a model of a potential course in statistics for journalism majors. The author proposes that three philosophies underlie a statistics course for journalism students. Such a course should (a) represent a statistics course with journalism, not a journalism course seasoned with a few statistics; (b) encourage awareness of error and skepticism of omniscience of official figures; and (c) cultivate statistical enthusiasts, not formulae repositories. Findings report students in just one fifth of U.S. journalism programs are required to take statistics, and none of those programs offer a course within their own academic unit that fulfills a traditional statistics requirement.
Descriptors: Journalism Education, Models, Degree Requirements, Majors (Students), Educational Philosophy, Course Content, Academic Standards, Undergraduate Students, Statistics, Student Surveys, Educational Needs, Behavioral Objectives
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
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Authoring Institution: N/A
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