Developing statistical literacy using real-world data: Investigating socioeconomic secondary data resources used in research and teaching

Increasing volumes of statistical data are being made available on the open web, including from the World Bank. This 'data deluge' provides both opportunities and challenges. Good use of these data requires statistical literacy. This paper presents results from a project that set out to better understand how socioeconomic secondary data are being used in helping to develop quantitative skills in UK university social sciences and focuses on the World Bank data in support of this. Evidence of real-world data use to develop statistically literate social science students is presented. This underpins capacity-building in UK social sciences, a need recognized by research councils, statistical organizations and other bodies. The work has helped uncover evidence of good practice in teaching and research to inform others who wish to support their students in becoming statistically literate using real-world data. The challenge is to share and replicate this good practice (mainly in economics and econometrics) in other areas of social and educational research which are less well served. © 2011 Taylor & Francis.