Question

What does “statistically literate” mean and why is it important to be “statistically literate”? Be sure to use research (at least one research journal article - you can use Google Scholar to find an article) to support your answer.

Please answer different answers from other chegg posts

Answer 1

According to H.G. Wells, statistical thinking will one day be as necessary for efficient citizenship as the ability to read and write.

Statistical literacy is the ability to understand and reason with statistics and data. The abilities to understand and reason with data, or arguments that use data, are necessary for citizens to understand material presented in publications such as newspapers, television, and the Internet.

To be statistically literate is to be able to make sense of statistics, i.e. to think critically about the information being presented; to understand the context; and to be able to tell the story in the data.

Why is it important to be statistically literate?

1) It provides a basis for decisions to be made on public policy, such as determining electoral boundaries and where to locate schools and hospitals.

2) It also allows businesses to know their market, grow their business, and improve their marketing strategies by targeting their activities appropriately.

3) Statistics help you to understand and learn from the past, make sense of the present, and make inferences about the future. The value of statistics is only as great as your ability to accurately understand, interpret and evaluate the available information.

4) Being statistically literate allows you to access and use data more effectively for informed decision making, including being able to:

• evaluate number-based claims in the media
• recognise words that imply much but assert very little
• understand statements involving rates and percentages
• critically evaluate statistically-based arguments involving public policy
• identify consequences, implications or impacts