An analysis of media items about the Coronavirus pandemic: New insights for statistical literacy

Despite repeated calls for development of statistical literacy among citizens, in fact there is a dearth of recent systematic empirical research on the actual mathematical and statistical demands of mainstream media. Hence, this study aimed to develop a typology of the content of mathematical and statistical products and demands in the COVID-19 pandemic media, given the criticality of such information to citizens and societies alike. We conducted content-analysis of a purposive sample of over 300 media items from digital news sources based in four countries with different profiles. The analysis generated nine categories of new or enhanced types of knowledge and skill demands evident in the media items analyzed, such as regarding models and causality, data quality and strength of evidence, comparative thinking, literacy and language, official data sources, critical interpretation, and more. We discuss implications for current conceptual models and for instructional efforts focused on statistical literacy.