This is a session of Topic 7: Statistical literacy in the wider society

Session 7A (Friday 13th, 11:00-12:30,   Terrsa Hall)

Promoting understanding of civic statistics: Linking conceptual frameworks, datasets, visualizations, and resources

Organizer

• Iddo Gal (Israel) : Session chair

Abstract

This session examines challenges related to promoting understanding and use of statistics about society ("civic statistics"). The session draws on work by ProCivicStat (PCS), a collaboration of 6 universities from 5 countries, funded by the ERASMUS+ program of the EU, and includes papers from three of the project partners. Paper 1 overviews the characteristics of civic statistics (related e.g., to crime, poverty, employment, income, etc., and involving dynamic, multivariate phenomena, rich texts and rich visualizations, etc). It sketches a new conceptual framework comprised of 11 facets needed to make sense, critically interpret, and analyze civic statistics. Paper 2 elaborates on one of a key facets of the PCS framework, regarding knowledge needed to understand official statistics. Paper 3 introduces a multi-component framework that allows linking of datasets on socially-relevant topics to software tools and data visualizations, to statistical concepts and to socio-economic concepts. While the papers stand on their own, they are linked and informed by international efforts to develop statistical literacy of students and adults at large. The papers will describe current efforts, reflect on new needs and future solutions and implications. Papers will be followed by an extended floor discussion.

Papers