Better News about Math: A Research Agenda

Barchas‐Lichtenstein, Jena; Voiklis, John; Santhanam, Laura; Akpan, Nsikan; Ishwar, Shivani; Attaway, Bennett; Parson, Patti; Fraser, John

doi:10.5038/1936-4660.14.1.1377

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The above implications illustrate key foci for research and education that are of relevance to both current circumstances and future crises (Barchas-Lichtenstein et al, 2021 ; Skovsmose, 2021 ; Topper & Lagadec, 2013 ). Ongoing work on the topics outlined in this article is essential to enable mathematics and statistics education to extend beyond existing theoretical models and serve the expanding needs of diverse societies around the globe.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Welcome to the era of vague news: a study of the demands of statistical and mathematical products in the COVID-19 pandemic media

Gal

Geiger

2022

Educ Stud Math

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In this article, we report on a typology of the demands of statistical and mathematical products (StaMPs) embedded in media items related to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. The typology emerged from a content analysis of a large purposive sample of diverse media items selected from digital news sources based in four countries. The findings encompass nine categories of StaMPs: (1) descriptive quantitative information, (2) models, predictions, causality and risk, (3) representations and displays, (4) data quality and strength of evidence, (5) demographics and comparative thinking, (6) heterogeneity and contextual factors, (7) literacy and language demands, (8) multiple information sources, and (9) critical demands. We illustrate these categories via selected media items, substantiate them through relevant research literature, and point to categories that encompass new or enhanced types of demands. Our findings offer insights into the rich set of capabilities that citizens (including both young people and adults) must possess in order to engage these mass media demands, critically analyze statistical and mathematical information in the media, evaluate the meaning and credibility of news reports, understand public policies, and make evidenced-informed judgments. Our conclusions point to the need to revise current curricular frameworks and conceptual models (e.g., regarding statistical and probability literacy, adult numeracy), to better incorporate notions such as blended knowledge, vagueness, risk, strength of evidence, and criticality. Furthermore, more attention is needed to the literacy and language demands of media items involving statistical and mathematical information. Implications for further research and educational practice are discussed.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%