The International Research Forums on Statistical Reasoning, Thinking, and Literacy

The International Statistical Reasoning, Thinking, and Literacy Research Forums (SRTL) began in 1999 to foster current and innovative research studies that examine the nature and development of statistical literacy, statistical reasoning, and statistical thinking, and to explore the challenge posed to educators at all levels –– to develop these desired learning goals for students. Over the past decade there has been an increasingly strong call for statistics education to focus more on statistical literacy, statistical reasoning, and statistical thinking. One of the main arguments presented is that traditional approaches to teaching statistics focus on skills, procedures, and computations, which do not lead students to reason or think statistically.

The SRTL Forums, co-chaired by Joan Garfield and Dani Ben-Zvi , offer scientific gatherings every two years and related publications in journals, CD-ROMs and books. The SRTL Forums have multiple features: small size that allows plenty of time for interaction and discussion; the use of videos of classroom work or interviews with students, as a way to present, discuss and argue about research related to these topics; and a stimulating and enriching format that facilitates the acquaintance with key researchers in this area and viewing their work in progress.

SRTL Website http://srtl.stat.auckland.ac.nz/

SRTL Publications
Books

• Garfield, J., & Ben-Zvi, D. (in press). Developing students’ statistical reasoning: connecting research and teaching practice. Springer.
• Ben-Zvi, D., & Garfield, J. (Eds.) (2004). The challenge of developing statistical literacy, reasoning, and thinking. Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Journals

• Special issues of the Statistics Education Research Journal on "Reasoning about variability", Volume 3(2) (http://www.stat.auckland.ac.nz/~iase/serj/SERJ3(2).pdf), and Volume 4(1) (http://www.stat.auckland.ac.nz/~iase/serj/SERJ4(1).pdf).
• A special issue of the Statistics Education Research Journal on "Reasoning about Distribution", Volume 5(2), http://www.stat.auckland.ac.nz/~iase/serj/SERJ5(2).
• A special issue of the Statistics Education Research Journal on "Reasoning about Informal Statistical Inference" is expected by 2008.

Conference Proceedings (on CD-ROM's)

• Lee C. (Ed.) (2003). Reasoning about variability: A collection of current research studies (CD-ROM). Proceedings of the Third International Research Forum on Statistical Reasoning, Thinking, and Literacy (SRTL-3), the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA, 23 – 28 July. Mt. Pleasant, MI: Department of Mathematics, Central Michigan University.
• Makar, K. (Ed.) (2005). Reasoning about distribution: A collection of current research studies. Proceedings of the Fourth International Research Forum on Statistical Reasoning, Thinking, and Literacy (SRTL-4), University of Auckland, New Zealand, 2 - 7 July. Brisbane: University of Queensland.

The Theme, Location, Dates and Website of the SRTL Research Forums

SRTL1: Foundations of Statistical Reasoning, Statistical Thinking and Statistical Literacy
The Weizmann Institute of Science and Kibbutz Be’eri, [Israel], July 18-23, 1999, http://srtl.stat.auckland.ac.nz/srtl1/research_forums

SRTL2: Statistical Reasoning
University of New England, Armidale, Australia, August 15-20, 2001, http://srtl.stat.auckland.ac.nz/srtl2/research_forums

SRTL3: Reasoning about Variability
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA, July 23-28, 2003, http://srtl.stat.auckland.ac.nz/srtl3/research_forums

SRTL4: Reasoning about Distribution
University of Auckland, New Zealand, July 2-7, 2005, http://srtl.stat.auckland.ac.nz/srtl4/research_forums

SRTL5: Reasoning about Statistical Inference – Innovative Ways of Connecting Chance and Data
The University of Warwick, United Kingdom, August 11-17, 2007, http://srtl.stat.auckland.ac.nz/srtl5/research_forums

SRTL6: The Role of Context and Evidence in Informal Inferential Reasoning
The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, July 10 - 16, 2009, http://srtl.stat.auckland.ac.nz/srtl6/research_forums