Statistical literacy and quantitative reasoning: Rethinking the curriculum

Abstract

The importance of statistical literacy/quantitative reasoning has been highlighted for decades; today the need is even more compelling with data science emerging as foundational in many disciplines. Educated students should understand how to make decisions in the presence of uncertainty and how to interpret quantitative information presented to them in the course of their professional and personal activities. Too often, however, students have limited experience in thinking and reasoning based on real data. This paper explores how ideas from data science interface with notions of statistical literacy/quantitative reasoning, considers foundational concepts necessary to enable students to engage with real data sets in the learning process, and identifies potential curricular elements that are important for all students from these perspectives.