An Evaluation of College Students' Perceptions of Statisticians. Issue 2 (4th May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Taasoobshirazi, Gita; Wagner, Madeleine; Brown, Austin; Copeland, Colene
• Is Part Of: Journal of Statistics and Data Science Education. Volume 30:Issue 2(2022)
• Page Start: 138
• Page End: 153
• Publication Date: 2022-05-04
• Subjects: Draw a mathematician -- Draw a scientist -- Draw a statistician -- Gender differences -- Statistics -- STEM
• DOI: 10.1080/26939169.2022.2058655
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2693-9169

Abstract

Abstract: The widely used Draw a Scientist Test was revised to focus on statistics and 110 Elementary Statistics students were asked to draw a statistician. In addition, to better understand students' drawings and have some relative comparison, 173 College Algebra students were asked to draw a mathematician. A detailed analysis of students' images and students' demographic information was conducted using descriptive statistics, categorical data analysis, logistic regressions, and hierarchical cluster analysis. Results showed that students tend to perceive statisticians and mathematicians as primarily White and male. However, female students were more likely than male students to draw a female statistician and mathematician. Two themed clusters emerged from the hierarchical cluster analysis for both the math and statistics students. We discuss the implications of the results for teaching and future research.