Education Commons^™

Teaching Statistics With Sports Examples, Paul Kvam, Joel Sokol

Department of Math & Statistics Faculty Publications

Class material for introductory and advanced statistics can be colorfully illustrated by using appropriate data and examples from sports. Specific methods, including statistical graphics (e.g., boxplots), ball-and-urn probabilities, and statistical regression are demonstrated. Examples are drawn from popular American sports such as baseball, basketball, soccer and American football. Classroom feedback indicates that most students enjoy sports examples as a way to learn abstract concepts using familiar, recreational settings.