Advancing critical data science and statistical literacy for democratic and civic education
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52041/iase25.113Abstract
In an increasingly data-driven world, the integration of critical data literacy and statistical reasoning into civic education has emerged as a vital component of democratic engagement. The ability to interpret, question, and ethically engage with data empowers individuals to participate meaningfully in civic life, challenge misinformation, and advocate for equitable policies. This paper examines the intersection of data literacy, statistical reasoning, and civic education, emphasizing their role in fostering informed and socially responsible citizens. Drawing from global scholarships, pedagogical innovations, and case studies, we argue that a critical approach to data education enhances democratic resilience by promoting analytical thinking, ethical awareness, and social justice. By reimagining curriculum design and instructional strategies, educators can equip learners with the competencies needed to navigate a data-saturated society, promote equity, and contribute to democratic decision- making.References
Alscher, P., Ludewig, U., & McElvany, N. (2022). Civic Education, Teaching Quality and Students’ Willingness to Participate in Political and Civic Life: Political Interest and Knowledge as Mediators. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 51(10), 1886–1900. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-022-01639- 9
Awe, O. O., Love, K., & Vance, E. A. (2022). Promoting Statistical Practice and Collaboration in Developing Countries. Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003261148
Awe, O. O., Love, K., & Vance, E. A. (2024). Teaching Data Science in Africa via Online Team-Based Learning. In O. O. Awe & E. A. Vance (Eds.), Sustainable Statistical and Data Science Methods and Practices: Reports from LISA 2020 Global Network, Ghana, 2022 (pp. 409–415). Springer Nature Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-41352-0_21
Baumer, B. (2015). A data science course for undergraduates: Thinking with data. The American Statistician, 69(4), 334–342. https://doi.org/10.1080/00031305.2015.1081105
D'Ignazio, C., & Klein, L. F. (2020). Data Feminism. The MIT Press.
Engel, J. (2017). Statistical literacy for active citizenship: A call for data science education. Statistics Education Research Journal, 16(1), 44–49. https://doi.org/10.52041/serj.v16i1.213
Engel, J., & Martignon, L. (2022). Data science for informed citizens: on synergies between data literacy and civic statistics. In S. A. Peters, L. Zapata-Cardona, F. Bonafini, & A. Fan (Eds.), Bridging the Gap: Empowering & Educating Today’s Learners in Statistics. Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Teaching Statistics (ICOTS11). International Association for Statistical Education.
Engel, J. & Weber-Stein, F. (2023). Teaching social science students to think with data. In EM Jones (Ed.), Fostering Learning of Statistics and Data Science. Proceedings of the Satellite conference of the International Association for Statistical Education (IASE), July 2023, Toronto, Canada.
Gal, I. (2023). Critical Understanding of Civic Statistics: Engaging with Important Contexts, Texts, and Opinion Questions. In J. Ridgway (Ed.), Statistics for Empowerment and Social Engagement (pp. 323–343). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-20748-8_13
Gal, I., Nicholson, J., Ridgway, J. (2023). A Conceptual Framework for Civic Statistics and Its Educational Applications. In J. Ridgway (Ed.), Statistics for Empowerment and Social Engagement (pp. 37–66). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-20748-8_3
Ghosh, D., Boettcher, W. A., Johnston, R., & Lahiri, S. (2025). THANOS: A Predictive Model of Electoral Campaigns Using Twitter Data and Opinion Polls. Data Science in Science, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/26941899.2025.2484180
Krishnannair, A., & Krishnannair, S. (2022). “Critical Statistical Literacy”, “Social Justice Statistics”, and “Critical Statistical Consciousness” as Higher Education Imperatives, amidst the Covid-19 Pandemic in South Africa. South African Journal of Higher Education, 36(1), 154–170. https://doi.org/10.20853/36-1-4509
Martínez-Castro, C.A., Zapata-Cardona, L., Jones, G.L. (2023). Critical Citizenship in Statistics Teacher Education. In G. F. Burrill, L. de Oliveria Souza & E. Reston (Eds.), Research on Reasoning with Data and Statistical Thinking: International Perspectives (pp. 213–226). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-29459-4_17
Radermacher, W. J. (2022). Statistical awareness promoting a data culture. Statistical Journal of the IAOS, 38(2), 453–461. https://doi.org/10.3233/sji-220956
Rak, J., & Rezmer-Płotka, K. (2022). Civic Education for Democracy During Crisis: Measuring State Media Engagement. The New Educational Review, 69(3), 82–94. https://doi.org/10.15804/tner.2022.69.3.06
Thelma, C. C., Madoda, D., Sylvester, C., Patrick, M., & Olayinka, Y. (2024). Evaluating the Effectiveness of Civic Education in Enhancing Voter Participation and Political Engagement. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 8, 4478–4493. https://doi.org/10.47772/ijriss.2024.8080344
Watson, J. M. (2003). Statistical Literacy at the School Level: What Should Students Know and Do? The Bulletin of The International Statistical Institute, 54, 1–4. https://hdl.handle.net/102.100.100/521470
Weber-Stein, F., & Engel, J. (2025). Implementing Statistical Literacy in Civics Teacher Education. Journal of Political Science Education, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/15512169.2025.2483786
Weiland, T. (2017). Problematizing statistical literacy: An intersection of critical and statistical literacies. Educational Studies in Mathematics, 96(1), 33–47. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10649-017- 9764-5