Mathematics Education Doctoral Students’ Attitudes Toward Statistics

Abstract

This study examines mathematics education doctoral students’ perspectives of statistics. Several studies have been conducted regarding undergraduate students’ attitudes toward statistics during their experiences in introductory statistics courses (e.g, Gal, Ginsburg, & Schau, 1997; Wise, 1985). Far fewer studies have been conducted regarding teachers’ attitudes toward statistics (e.g, Begg & Edwards, 1999; Greer & Ritson, 1994). One area of research that has not been explored concerns mathematics educators’ and mathematics teacher education faculty members’ attitudes toward statistics. This area of research is especially important given the impediments statistics educators have encountered when trying to increase the depth and quality of statistics education in the K-12 setting. Results show there is a need to emphasize statistics more broadly in the preparation of mathematics education doctoral students.