Reaching out to the sports science setting: the impact of academic practice on students’ statistical literacy

Abstract

It has been widely documented that many undergraduate students demonstrate antipathy towards statistics. This paper documents the findings from an investigation of statistics education in a sport and exercise science department at The University of Chichester in the UK. Sports science is a multidisciplinary subject that encompasses biomechanics, physiology, and psychology. The university had a suite of four programmes each with a different emphasis in terms of subject discipline. Academics’ use and interpretation of statistics are influenced by their subject specialism within sports science. The investigation evaluated the differences in examination performance between degree programmes, gender and previous mathematics achievement. Findings from the analysis of examination results found mathematics qualification to significantly affect achievement in statistics examinations. Qualitative analysis provided contextual detail that support the need for professional and pedagogic development.