Statistical education at South African universities with special reference to the needs of consulting statisticians

Abstract

This study concerns statistical education at university level in South Africa. An analysis of the data from two questionnaires identified the statistical methods commonly used by groups of statisticians employed in different sectors of the economy, and showed that there were significant differences between the usages hy some of the employee groups. Estimates of the teaching emphasis given to these methods by universities established that certain methods %et greater emphasis than their use warrants, while others get less. Comments from sixty five statisticians on tne effectiveness of their training indicated that the teaching of statistics is too theoretical. Continuing education courses, as a means of upgrading the statistical abilities of users o" -atistlcs, are discussed, and the experience gained in this field at the University of the Witwatersrand if, presented. Suggestions are made concerning the use of educational theory pertaining to curriculum development to improve the effectiveness of statistical education. The value of this study is that it is the first detailed