A Census of Statistics Requirements at U.S. Journalism Programs and a Model for a "Statistics for Journalism" Course. (December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Martin, Justin D.
• Is Part Of: Journalism & mass communication educator. Volume 72:Number 4(2017:Dec.)
• Page Start: 461
• Page End: 479
• Publication Date: 2017-12
• Subjects: statistics -- journalism -- curriculum -- data -- undergraduate education -- numeracy; Communication -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- United States -- Periodicals; Journalism -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- United States -- Periodicals; Mass media -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- United States -- Periodicals; 070.07
• DOI: 10.1177/1077695816679054
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1077-6958

Abstract

This essay presents data from a census of statistics requirements and offerings at all 4-year journalism programs in the United States ( N = 369) and proposes a model of a potential course in statistics for journalism majors. The author proposes that three philosophies underlie a statistics course for journalism students. Such a course should (a) represent a statistics course with journalism, not a journalism course seasoned with a few statistics; (b) encourage awareness of error and skepticism of omniscience of official figures; and (c) cultivate statistical enthusiasts, not formulae repositories. Findings report students in just one fifth of U.S. journalism programs are required to take statistics, and none of those programs offer a course within their own academic unit that fulfills a traditional statistics requirement.