Making Sense of Data and Statistics in Psychology [Dec 12, 2001] Greer, Brian and Mulhern, Gerry

Making Sense of Data and Statistics in Psychology confronts the pedagogic challenge of teaching statistics to students in psychology and related disciplines. Recognising the heterogeneous nature of students' mathematical backgrounds and motivations, the authors adopt an innovative approach while ensuring ready integration into orthodox undergraduate statistics courses at introductory and post-introductory levels. Before being introduced to formal statistics, students are encouraged to develop a 'feel' for data, particularly through visual representation. Making extensive use of exploratory data analysis (EDA), the text emphasises conceptual rather than technical or procedural understanding.

BRIAN GREER is Professor at the San Diego State University, working in the Centre for Research on Mathematics and Science Education. He has taught statistics to psychology students for many years, and has published widely on mathematics education, recently co-authoring Making Sense of World Problems.

GERRY MULHERN is Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Queen's University of Belfast, having previously taught at the Universities of Edinburgh and Ulster. He has published widely in the areas of applied cognition and mathematics education, and is former Honorary General Secretary of the British Psychological Society.