Probabilistic and Statistical Thinking

Styles of reasoning for mathematics education

“…Vice versa, mathematics education research may also have something to offer for the philosophy of science and mathematics and for epistemology in general. In their reflections on research on probabilistic and statistical thinking, Sriraman and Chernoff (2020) proposed that "a field interested in the teaching and learning of probability and statistics and probabilistic and statistical thinking, such as the fields of probability and statistics education, is uniquely positioned to continue to investigate probabilistic and statistical thinking" (p. 676). I would agree and argue that the same can be expected from mathematics education research in general for insights on a broader range of styles of reasoning.…”

“…From the perspective of the framework of styles of reasoning, probability and statistics education is an interesting field of mathematics education research (Sriraman & Chernoff, 2020): This field is characterised by an outstanding awareness of the particularities of the forms of reasoning it studies. The identified problems of learners and even of experts to use these forms of reasoning document impressively that (at least some) styles of reasoning do not come naturally but are a cultural product, whose use has to be learnt and negotiated.…”

“…Ben-Zvi's (2020) postulation that "the goal of teaching statistics is to produce statistically educated students who develop statistical literacy and the ability to reason statistically", where the latter "is the way people reason with the 'big statistical ideas' and make sense of statistical information during a data-based activity" (p. 178) or Gal's (2002) proposal that "adults should develop a positive view of themselves as capable of statistical and probabilistic reasoning as well as a willingness and interest to 'think statistically' in relevant situations" (p. 19) show that "learning to reason" is already a central part of the selfunderstanding of this research field. However, as Sriraman and Chernoff (2020) acknowledged in their Encyclopedia entry on "probabilistic and statistical thinking", the perspective of the field is predominantly psychological and not epistemological. Thus, the questions how probabilistic and statistical reasoning relates to other forms of reasoning, how it justifies assertions, and how it contributes to our understanding of the world are not yet part of the academic reflections of the field.…”

Probabilistic Thinking for Life: The Decision-Making Ability of Professionals in Uncertain Situations

“…Therefore, understanding the reason behind adults' decisionmaking about uncertainties would provide the basis for structuring teaching and learning for students' first encounter with probability in classrooms. Sriraman and Chernoff (2020) contend that "a field interested in the teaching and learning of probability and statistics and probabilistic and statistical thinking, such as the fields of probability and statistics education, is uniquely positioned to continue to investigate probabilistic and statistical thinking" (p. 676). I agree and argue that investigating various professionals on the use of probability skills acquired in schools for decision-making would provide broader insights into peoples' probabilistic thinking.…”