Affiliations: Statistics New Zealand, P.O. Box 2922, Wellington, New
Zealand | University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland
Mail Centre 1142, New Zealand
Abstract: Statistical literacy involves products that use words, numbers and
graphs together to communicate messages. It includes skills in making and using
these products. The focus for National Statistics Offices (NSOs) is on making
data products, including statistical indicators. Such products are becoming
more numerous, more detailed, more diverse, and more readily available.
Students, in learning to make their own data products, can use Official
Statistics as models of good practice, giving them a ready-made and large
resource to draw on. Statistics New Zealand, like some other NSOs, has a number
of products designed specifically to support school statistics learning and a
larger number designed for public and/or professional audiences. We outline
some established and new products of both forms including Synthetic Unit Record
Files (SURFs) for schools and the educational use of [free] public releases
including Hot Off The Presses, Infoshare (time-series data sets), Table
Builder, and QuickStats about places and subjects. There are fun challenges for
both official statistics agencies and statistical literacy educators here. We
discuss how both groups can work together to ensure that the education
community knows about these products and knows how to use them effectively. We
need to ensure that these data products are accessible, interesting, valued and
engaged with. The Certificate in Official Statistics aims to advance the
practice of statistical literacy in the Official Statistics sector. We outline
our four years of experience with this qualification.
Keywords: Statistical literacy, official statistics, confidentialised unit record files, synthetic unit record files, access to official statistics, interface between official statistics, statistics education
