Considers the use of personal information given by students to teach about understanding and appreciation of data analysis in college sociology courses. Students are directed to describe their personal style by a five step process: simple measurement of personal characteristics, recoding and indexing, quantifying a dimension, discussing recoding…

Suggests using simulated data to teach students about the nature and use of statistical tests and measures. Observes that simulated data contains built-in pure relationships with no poor response rates or coding or sampling errors. Recommends suitable software. Includes information on using data sets, demonstrating statistical principles, and…

Reports on a statistics course designed to emphasize real-world applications. The course is primarily lab-based and provides students with numerous opportunities to demonstrate mastery of their skills. The instruction is tightly focused on achievable goals and utilizes hands-on experience and computer tutorials. (MJP)