Strategies that enhance student engagement during the teaching of statistics in psychology programs

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Author(s)
Neumann, David
Hood, Michelle
Neumann, Michelle
Year published
2008
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The profession of psychology is based on the principles of scientific investigation and analysis. However, students in psychology programs generally rate the study of research methods and statistics low on indicators such as relevance and interest. This paper will examine some methods that have been used to enhance student engagement and learning during a first year statistics course. The use of on-line and in-class computer-based interactive exercises can illustrate statistical concepts such as sampling, regression, and hypothesis testing in a novel way. A data gathering questionnaire completed in the first class can also ...
View more >The profession of psychology is based on the principles of scientific investigation and analysis. However, students in psychology programs generally rate the study of research methods and statistics low on indicators such as relevance and interest. This paper will examine some methods that have been used to enhance student engagement and learning during a first year statistics course. The use of on-line and in-class computer-based interactive exercises can illustrate statistical concepts such as sampling, regression, and hypothesis testing in a novel way. A data gathering questionnaire completed in the first class can also provide raw data of interest to students for illustrative purposes throughout the course. Finally, using student-relevant and discipline-relevant examples of statistical concepts with the odd funny photo thrown in can maintain student attention during lectures. Evaluation of these approaches indicates that each can play a role to promote student learning and engagement in statistics courses for psychology students.
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View more >The profession of psychology is based on the principles of scientific investigation and analysis. However, students in psychology programs generally rate the study of research methods and statistics low on indicators such as relevance and interest. This paper will examine some methods that have been used to enhance student engagement and learning during a first year statistics course. The use of on-line and in-class computer-based interactive exercises can illustrate statistical concepts such as sampling, regression, and hypothesis testing in a novel way. A data gathering questionnaire completed in the first class can also provide raw data of interest to students for illustrative purposes throughout the course. Finally, using student-relevant and discipline-relevant examples of statistical concepts with the odd funny photo thrown in can maintain student attention during lectures. Evaluation of these approaches indicates that each can play a role to promote student learning and engagement in statistics courses for psychology students.
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Conference Title
Conference Proceedings: Psychology leading change(43rd APS Annual Conference)
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Copyright Statement
© 2008 Australian Psychological Society. This is the author-manuscript version of the paper. Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. Please refer to the publisher's website for access to the definitive, published version.
Subject
Educational Psychology