Covid-19 shows why we need Civic Statistics: illustrations and classroom activities

Ridgway, Jim; Ridgway, Rosie

Abstract

There are few better examples than a pandemic to demonstrate the importance of, and need for, Civic Statistics. Every country affected by Covid-19 faces the threat of widespread deaths, economic damage, and social disruption. Citizens and governments need to take account of existing and emerging evidence, in order to decide on effective action. In most cases, governments need to create mechanisms to gather more evidence relevant to decision making, such as the incidence, rate of growth, and nature of the disease. For measures to be effective in democratic societies, governments need to give transparent and convincing explanations for their decisions. This puts high demands on skills associated with communicating statistical evidence on the side of governments and media, and a citizenry able to understand statistical messages. Evidence associated with Covid-19 covers the full spectrum of the features of Civic Statistics described by Engel and Ridgway in Chapter 2. Skills needed to understand and act on evidence cover the complete set of skills set out by Gal, Nicholson and Ridgway in Chapter 3. Here, we illustrate these features, point to requisite skills, and suggest some activities for students.

Citation

Ridgway, J., & Ridgway, R. (2022). Covid-19 shows why we need Civic Statistics: illustrations and classroom activities. In J. Ridgway (Ed.), Statistics for empowerment and social engagement: teaching Civic Statistics to develop informed citizens (297-319). Springer Verlag. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-20748-8_12

• Publication Date: 2022
• Deposit Date: Oct 28, 2021
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Pages: 297-319
• Book Title: Statistics for empowerment and social engagement: teaching Civic Statistics to develop informed citizens
• Chapter Number: 12
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-20748-8_12
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1646992