Contributed paper list


   (Friday 16th, 08:20-09:20)

Creating statistically literate global citizens: the use of integrated census microdata in teaching

Authors

Ann Meier, Robert McCaa, David Lam

Presenter

Ann Meier (United States)

Abstract

We describe the use of international census micro data for teaching undergraduate students in two population related courses. The Integrated Public Use Micro Series (IPUMS) of international census data contains social and population data from 84 countries from 1960 to the present. We detail the use of the IPUMS data in courses at the University of Minnesota and the University of Michigan to help students understand population issues in historical and comparative perspective. One of the most significant learning outcomes of these courses was the acquisition of a baseline level of statistical literacy among non-statistics students in the social sciences. An added benefit was the global understanding gained through the investigation of countries other than their own across time and in comparison to other countries.