SocSciStats

I was not at all wanting to take this class, but just this first video and your enthusiasm made me super excited about statistics. I loved your examples too, by the way.

– Social Statistics Online Student

Throughout my Social Statistics and Introduction to Biostatistics for Public Health courses, I teach students how to overcome math anxiety and help them develop strengths in statistical analysis.

Many students begin these math courses doubtful of their ability to succeed.

I was one of those students, too! In my first semester of graduate school, the words of my undergraduate calculus professor kept playing over and over in my mind: you’re just not a math person. I did well enough in high school math courses, but the experiences were full of anxiety, toxic perfectionism, and a sinking feeling that math wasn’t for us “creative types” after all.

If only I knew then what I know now…

• That a sociological approach could help me shift my own narrative about my math abilities.
• That math concepts often make a lot more sense when brought to life by relevant data and when analytics are used to understand real-world issues.
• That the labor market desperately needs more creative minds to help solve today’s big data challenges… and more statistically-savvy communicators to translate research findings into actionable recommendations.

This course is designed to introduce new ways of thinking about math that are accessible to all kinds of learners and exposure to pre-college math.

First, we build up our math ability beliefs while mastering the basics of probability and descriptive statistics. Over the course of the semester, we strengthen our intermediate analytic skills through examples grounded in applied analysis. By the end of the term, students are programming some of their own statistical queries, testing hypotheses, and interpreting regression results.

This is the first math course that I’ve taken in college that I actually enjoy. The homework is challenging, but not impossible because we have all the resources. When I’ve emailed Emily, she responded very quickly and answered my question in a way that I could understand. I can tell that she enjoys her work and is interested in her students learning the material.

– Introduction to Biostatistics for Public Health Online Student