<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> This article aims to challenge official statistics providers and statistics educators to ponder on how to help non-specialist adult users of statistics develop those aspects of statistical literacy that pertain to official statistics. We first document the gap in the literature in terms of the conceptual basis and educational materials needed for such an undertaking. We then review skills and competencies that may help adults to make sense of statistical information in areas of importance to society. Based on this review, we identify six elements related to official statistics about which non-specialist adult users should possess knowledge in order to be considered literate in official statistics: (1) the system of official statistics and its work principles; (2) the nature of statistics about society; (3) indicators; (4) statistical techniques and big ideas; (5) research methods and data sources; and (6) awareness and skills for citizens’ access to statistical reports. Based on this ad hoc typology, we discuss directions that official statistics providers, in cooperation with statistics educators, could take in order to (1) advance the conceptualization of skills needed to understand official statistics, and (2) expand educational activities and services, specifically by developing a collaborative digital textbook and a modular online course, to improve public capacity for understanding of official statistics.</p></abstract>

This article aims to challenge official statistics providers and statistics educators to ponder on how to help non-specialist adult users of statistics develop those aspects of statistical literacy that pertain to official statistics. We first document the gap in the literature in terms of the conceptual basis and educational materials needed for such an undertaking. We then review skills and competencies that may help adults to make sense of statistical information in areas of importance to society. Based on this review, we identify six elements related to official statistics about which non-specialist adult users should possess knowledge in order to be considered literate in official statistics: (1) the system of official statistics and its work principles; (2) the nature of statistics about society; (3) indicators; (4) statistical techniques and big ideas; (5) research methods and data sources; and (6) awareness and skills for citizens’ access to statistical reports. Based on this ad hoc typology, we discuss directions that official statistics providers, in cooperation with statistics educators, could take in order to (1) advance the conceptualization of skills needed to understand official statistics, and (2) expand educational activities and services, specifically by developing a collaborative digital textbook and a modular online course, to improve public capacity for understanding of official statistics.

Official Statistics and Statistics Education: Bridging the Gap

University of Haifa, Department of Human Services, Abba Houshi Road 199, Haifa, 3498838,

University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Economics, Kardeljeva pl. 17, Ljubljana, 1000,

Journal of Official Statistics

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

{"article-title":"Official Statistics and Statistics Education: Bridging the Gap"}

This article aims to challenge official statistics providers and statistics educators to ponder on how to help non-specialist adult users of statistics develop...

Official Statistics and Statistics Education: Bridging the Gap

Published Online: Feb 21, 2017

Page range: 79 - 100

Received: Oct 01, 2016

Accepted: Jan 01, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/jos-2017-0005

Keywords
Statistical literacy, skills and competencies, official statistics literacy, dissemination, adult education

© by Irena Ograjenšek

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Official Statistics and Statistics Education: Bridging the Gap

Published Online: Feb 21, 2017

Page range: 79 - 100

Received: Oct 01, 2016

Accepted: Jan 01, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/jos-2017-0005

KeywordsStatistical literacy, skills and competencies, official statistics literacy, dissemination, adult education

© by Irena Ograjenšek

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
Statistical literacy, skills and competencies, official statistics literacy, dissemination, adult education