LE3 .A278 2022

2022

Avery, Trevor

Acadia University

Bachelor of Science

Honours

Biology

Biology

The quantitative training and tools environment is rapidly changing from what it was 20 years ago. Modern tools and new approaches in how statistical analysis is taught and increased access to more sophisticated analyses in research through improved tools are fast-growing, and there is concern that university curricula are not keeping pace. In the fall of 2021, a survey was released to the Maple League and other Atlantic Canadian universities to try and capture the pulse of quantitative training (primarily through statistics courses) and quantitative tools used within statistical training and other courses. Only a small fraction of students reported learning well and gaps were identified in the teaching of collaborative work such as data management and peer training. While these results were only a preliminary analysis of a broader survey, some conclusions were apparent including having increased group work or larger projects coupled with more attention to quantitative tool training as possible solutions to bridge some gaps. Further investigation is also required to fully understand whether issues in statistics courses are simply due to a lack of individual understanding, or students not having the tools to understand statistics as an investigative process.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:3786