Welcome to the era of vague news : A study of the demands of statistical and mathematical products in the COVID-19 pandemic media
Journal article
Gal, Iddo and Geiger, Vince. (2022). Welcome to the era of vague news : A study of the demands of statistical and mathematical products in the COVID-19 pandemic media. Educational Studies in Mathematics. 111, pp. 5-28. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10649-022-10151-7
Authors | Gal, Iddo and Geiger, Vince |
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Abstract | 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. |
Keywords | adult numeracy; statistical literacy; mathematics education; critical interpretation; mathematics in the media; evidence |
Year | 2022 |
Journal | Educational Studies in Mathematics |
Journal citation | 111, pp. 5-28 |
Publisher | Springer |
ISSN | 0013-1954 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1007/s10649-022-10151-7 |
Scopus EID | 2-s2.0-85128829905 |
Open access | Published as ‘gold’ (paid) open access |
Research or scholarly | Research |
Page range | 5-28 |
Publisher's version | License File Access Level Open |
Output status | Published |
Publication dates | |
Online | 25 Apr 2022 |
Publication process dates | |
Accepted | 16 Mar 2022 |
Deposited | 18 Aug 2022 |
https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/8y1y6/welcome-to-the-era-of-vague-news-a-study-of-the-demands-of-statistical-and-mathematical-products-in-the-covid-19-pandemic-media
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Publisher's version
OA_Gal_2022_Welcome_to_the_era_of_vague.pdf | |
License: CC BY 4.0 | |
File access level: Open |
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