Watching Hands Shuffle Data Improves Subsequent Understanding of R-Based Simulations of Randomness

Abstract

Simulation can be a powerful tool for teaching and learning statistics. Yet, students often struggle to understand the processes that underlie computer-based simulation activities. Recently, researchers have tried pairing computer-based simulation with more concrete, hands-on experiences to make simulation-processes more evident, but only in settings where students perform the hands-on simulation themselves. In this research, we ask whether manual simulation is necessary. Participants who were introduced to the shuffle function by watching a video of a hands-on activity before watching a video of live-coding performed better in a posttest than participants who were introduced to the shuffle function by watching an instructor write and run some R code and explain what that code did. This study provides pedagogical and practical insights into the use of hands-on demonstrations to complement computer simulation in remote teaching.