Standards for Statistical Practice

Table of contents

Refer to the syllabus (stats.echa.ng/syllabus/) for the grading details about these standards.

SP1 Attend to statistical precision.

Statistically proficient students make sense of problems and strive to convey the meaning and context of their answers to a general audience. They approach problems from a scientific standpoint, understanding the problem and:

  • Context: Consider the context of the data and problem, ensuring their conclusions are relevant and appropriately framed.
  • Vocabulary: Use precise and appropriate statistical vocabulary to clearly communicate their findings and reasoning.

SP2 Attend to mathematical precision.

Statistically proficient students attend to the correctness of their mathematical work, considering context of a problem. They:

  • Correctness: Ensure their mathematical and statistical work is accurate, checking for errors and validating results.
  • Calculations: Perform calculations meticulously, verifying each step to maintain accuracy and reliability in their statistical analyses.

SP3 Select, construct, and critique data representations.

Statistically proficient students can select, construct, and critique data representations. They:

  • Appropriate Representations: Choose the most appropriate tables, graphs, labels, scaling, and values to represent data accurately.
  • Misleading Graphs: Identify and critique misleading graphs, ensuring that their representations of data are honest and transparent.

SP4 Describe and compare distributions of data and describe relationships between variables.

Statistically proficient students describe and compare distributions of data and analyze relationships between variables. They:

  • Choosing Measures: Decide when to use median, mean, or other measures of central tendency based on the data’s characteristics.
  • Analyze distributions: Use criteria such as SOVC and SFDO to describe graphs.
  • Relationships: Describe and interpret relationships between variables, identifying trends, correlations, and potential causal relationships.

SP5 Describe and perform methods for studies and inferential statistics.

Statistically proficient students can describe and perform methods for studies and inferential statistics. They:

  • Experiments/Sampling: Design and describe experiments and sampling methods, ensuring methodological soundness and ethical considerations.
  • Procedural Fluency: Demonstrate procedural fluency in the four-step process of inference: State, Plan, Do, and Conclude

SP6 Explain, critique, and compare methods for descriptive and inferential statistics.

Statistically proficient students explain, critique, and compare methods for descriptive and inferential statistics. They:

  • Sampling Designs: Evaluate different sampling designs, recognizing strengths and limitations.
  • Experiment Designs: Critique experiment designs, ensuring they are robust and free from bias.
  • Scope of Inference: Understand and articulate the scope of inference, acknowledging the limitations of generalizability.
  • Inference Procedures: Select appropriate inference procedures for different contexts and data types.
  • Interpretations: Interpret results accurately, considering the implications and potential errors in their analyses.
  • Errors: Identify and understand types of errors (Type I and Type II) in statistical inference and their consequences.