Students' Understanding of Bar Graphs and Histograms: Results From the LOCUS Assessments. Issue 2 (4th May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Whitaker, Douglas; Jacobbe, Tim
• Is Part Of: Journal of statistics education. Volume 25:Issue 2 (2017)
• Page Start: 90
• Page End: 102
• Publication Date: 2017-05-04
• Subjects: Bar graphs -- High school students -- Histograms -- Middle school students; Statistics -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; Statistics -- Study and teaching; Periodicals; 519.5071
• DOI: Https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/10691898.2017.1321974
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1069-1898

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Bar graphs and histograms are core statistical tools that are widely used in statistical practice and commonly taught in classrooms. Despite their importance and the instructional time devoted to them, many students demonstrate misunderstandings when asked to read and interpret bar graphs and histograms. Much of the research that has been conducted about these misunderstandings has been with students in introductory statistics classes at the college level. In this article, students in grades 6–12 completed multiple-choice and constructed-response questions about bar graphs and histograms as part of a larger study. The same misunderstandings that college-level students demonstrate were found in these younger students.