Assessing students' conceptions related to independence of events and determining probabilities from a sample space has been the focus of research in probability education for over 40 years. While we know a lot from past studies about predictable ways students may reason with well-known tasks, developing a diagnostic assessment that can be used by…

Mike Shaughnessy is Professor Emeritus of Mathematics and Statistics at Portland State University in Oregon. He served as co-chair for the Board for the Special Interest Group for Research in Mathematics Education of the American Educational Research Association from 2005-2007. A member of the Board of Directors of the National Council of Teachers…

To develop a more robust understanding of the relationship between non-formal, school-based STEM activities and students' success and persistence in STEM fields, this study evaluates how math club participation influences math GPA and how science club participation influences science GPA. Additionally, this study evaluates how math or science club…

Incorporating relevant numerical information into decision-making is a fundamental and important aspect of numeracy. However, the process through which weight is assigned to particular numerical values is not well understood. The central theory proposed in this dissertation is that the weight assigned to numerical information may be conceptualized…

This study investigated the comprehension and effectiveness of teaching formal, probabilistic decision-making skills to middle school students. Two specific objectives were to determine (1) if middle school students can comprehend a probabilistic decision-making approach, and (2) if exposure to the modeling approaches improves middle school…

The application of mathematics, especially probability theory to law and social decision theory, is discussed. (SD)

The decision to draw another card or stand pat in blackjack can be made by computing two simple probabilities. (MP)

The contributions made by including probability theory in the primary grade curriculum are examined with respect to the day to day living of the developing child and his preparation for later life. In particular, language and decision making, misconceptions, research and systematic thinking, occupations, and the future are discussed. (MN)

Discusses a problem involving probability and uncertainty that students can investigate experimentally or theoretically and transforms the problem to a two-player game so that students can be introduced to some fundamental concepts of decision making. Includes computer programs used to analyze the problems. (MKR)

Presents an activity to analyze the data from the Challenger explosion to help students understand the critical role of statistics in decision making and the importance of considering all available data. (MKR)

The intuitive simplicity of probability can be deceiving. Described is a dialogue that presents arguments for conflicting solutions to a seemingly simple problem determining the probability of having two boys in a two-child family knowing that one child is a boy. Solutions contain multiple arguments and representations. (MDH)

Presents activities taken from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Addendum Series, grades 5-8, involving data collection and chance. Students determine whether a game is fair based on the data collected and examine rule changes to ensure fairness. (MDH)