Strong writing and speaking skills are needed if students are to effectively communicate about
statistical investigations and probabilistic phenomena or processes. Good reading comprehension
and communication skills are required so that students can effectively discuss or critique
statistical or probabilistic arguments they encounter which claim to be based on some data (e.g.,
“8 out of 10 doctors use...”, “there is a 20 percent chance that...”). Students should be able to use
statistical and probabilistic terminology properly, convey results in a convincing way, and be
able to construct proper arguments based on data or observations. They should also be able to
argue thoughtfully about the validity of other people’s interpretations of data or graphical
displays, and raise questions about acceptability of generalizations made on the basis of a single
study or a small sample.