SADC Course in Statistics Examples of Statistics Module B1, Session1

SADC Course in Statistics

Examples of Statistics

Module B1, Session1

2To put your footer here go to View > Header and Footer

Objectives

At the end of this session students will be able to:

• List a minimum of 10 areas of application of statistics in their country

• Give examples of how such statistics are used in his/her country

• Explain the difference between statistics as figures and Statistics as a discipline


Activities

1. Watch a video about statistics and complete the questionnaire provided in the handout

2. Read the booklet “The role of Statistics in World Development” and list how statistics can be used to promote development

3. Get two different copies of today’s newspapers and write a one-page report on how statistics is used today in your country


Activity 1: Video-clips

There are two videos clips, you can watch both, but the activity should only be completed in one of them. The video clips are:

• Mr. Trevor Manuel, South Africa Finance Minister (18/Nov/2006) in English with French subtitles

• Pedro Pires, President of the Republic of Cape Verde (15/Dec/2006) in Portuguese with English or French subtitles


The video clip questions (1)

If you watched Mr Trevor Manuel’s video clip

• How statistics help policy makers in making good decisions?

• What examples of statistic indicators are mentioned by Mr. Trevor Manuel?

• What is the most important element of statistics in government according to Mr Trevor Manuel?

• Why does a country need a census?


The video clip questions (1) cont…

• How can government use the results of a census?

• Can you add any other uses of a census to those mentioned in the video clip?

• When is African Statistics Day?

• What should politicians do with statistics that are not good news?

• What is the role of statistics in promoting good governance and transparency?


The video clip questions (2)If you watched Mr Pedro Pires’ video clip

• Why is it important to use good statistics in government?

• Can good decisions be based on hard figures only? What other type of information is needed for good decision making?

• What sectors of government that use statistics are mentioned in the interview?

• Can you add any more sectors?


The video clip questions (2) Cont…

• How are statistics used in agriculture?

• Is there a role for statistics in a process of general integration?

• Are there any other elements that you can add and that apply to your own region?

• What is the role of statistics in promoting good governance and transparency?

• Are there any conditions for statistics to be useful?


More on the video clips• List the technical terms/words that you heard and

did not understand. Look them up and write what they mean. You could use a dictionary, a glossary of statistical terms, check them on the web, ask someone who knows, whatever method of research you use, make sure you learn what they mean.


Activity 2: Statistics in World Development

• Read the booklet “The role of statistics in world development”

• Write a maximum of two pages on answering the question: How are statistics contributing to the development of your country?

• Write a list of the areas of application of statistics quoted in the booklet.


Activity 2: Statistics in World Development Cont…

• How can the production of good statistics be improved?

• Write down any words/technical terms that you don’t understand. Look them up and write what they mean. You could use a dictionary, a glossary of statistical terms, check them on the web, ask someone who knows, whatever method of research you use, make sure you learn what they mean.

• What is PARIS21?


Activity 3: Statistics today• Get a copy of two newspapers published today.

Browse through them looking for uses of statistics and complete the following form.


Statistics today (2)


The end

Documents

SADC Course in Statistics Examples of Statistics Module B1, Session1