Introduction of a Journal Excerpt Activity Improves Undergraduate Students’ Performance in Statistics
Abstract
We describe an active learning exercise intended to improve undergraduate students’ understanding of statistics by grounding complex concepts within a meaningful, applied context. Students in a journal excerpt activity class read brief excerpts of statistical reporting from published research articles, answered factual and interpretive questions, and discussed their responses with the instructor and peers. Students in this journal excerpt activity class outperformed students in a demographically equivalent standard class on exams. We discuss the potential benefits of this activity in terms of highlighting the connection between statistical concepts and real-world applications, fostering engagement with the material, and improving student performance. We also make suggestions for adapting this activity to other courses and disciplines.
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The few approaches identified in math were centered more on statistics and applied mathematics and not on pure math.
“The few approaches we identified were centered more on statistics and applied mathematics (Grindle et al., 2021; Maher, 2005; Rabin and Nutter-Upham, 2010) and not on pure math.”
From Reading Primary Scientific Literature: Approaches for Teaching Students in the Undergraduate STEM Classroom (2023) · cites this paper as Rabin and Nutter-Upham, 2010
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“The few approaches we identified were centered more on statistics and applied mathematics (Grindle et al., 2021; Maher, 2005; Rabin and Nutter-Upham, 2010) and not on pure math.”
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- Authors
- Rabin, L. A., & Nutter-Upham, K. E.
- Affiliations
- Brooklyn College (US)
- ORCID
- Rabin, Laura A.
- Venue
- College Teaching
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2010-09-28
- Volume
- 58
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 156-160
- ISSN
- 1930-8299 (ISSN-L)
- 8756-7555
- OpenAlex
- W2140579713
- Cited by
- 6
- References
- 20
- Citations by year
- 2023: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 1
- FWCI
- 0.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- College Teaching (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Statistics and Probability › Statistics Education and Methodologies
- Social Sciences › Education › Innovative Teaching Methods
- Social Sciences › Education › Innovative Teaching Methodologies in Social Sciences
- Keywords
- active learning, statistics education, undergraduate statistics, statistical reporting, student performance, student engagement, applied statistics
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