How to make statistics interesting, relevant and fun!

This paper describes how statistics are taught in the Department of Information Science (Loughborough University) and particularly focuses on step-by-step SPSS guides and data sets that have been specifically produced for LIS students. The teaching of statistics for Masters’ students forms part of a “short-fat” Research Management module which prepares them for dissertation research. Prior to statistical teaching, the practical relevance of collecting and manipulating quantitative and qualitative data in the sector is illustrated. This helps to inspire LIS students to develop the necessary skills to use statistical methods with confidence and competence. Descriptive and inferential statistics are first taught in lecture and tutorial format to deliver the basic theories and to provide hands-on experience of manipulating data. Students are then introduced to SPSS which reinforces statistical theory while at the same time being fun to use. The guides (one for Masters’ students and a more in-depth version for PhD students) enable the weakest students to obtain success while stretching the more able students. Relevant “real” data sets are used. Examples includes the top 100 best-selling books from 1989 to 2010; survey responses to students’ use and views of VLEs; UK library survey data on Open Access; and IT piracy worldwide. The guides and data sets have been successfully used by two cohorts and have been adopted by other disciplines in UK Universities. Feedback of the module has been excellent – “I have always hated numbers, I now know why they are important and I am much more confident about statistics”.