Statistical literacy: A new mission for data producers

Abstract

Statistical literacy is a new goal for statistical educators. A core element of statistical literacy for consumers is the ability to read and interpret data in the tables and graphs published by national statistical offices. A core element for producers is the ability to create tables, graphs and reports that are unambiguous and comprehensible. It appears that comprehensibility is not considered part of the mission for many national statistical offices (NSOs). Yet can the staff or users read the data generated by these agencies? The 2002 W. M. Keck Statistical Literacy survey indicates that professional data analysts, college students and school mathematics teachers and even college professors have difficulties reading such data. A common reason is confusing captions. Other reasons include user difficulties in decoding tables and in using ordinary English to describe part-whole relations. Recommendations include vetting agency tables and graphs for comprehensibility, assessing the statistical literacy of staff and users, and developing objective standard standards for using ordinary English to describe rates and percentages and for titling such tables. Establishing these standards can help teachers improve the statistical literacy of students and future leaders so they can use agency-generated data to make better decisions.