Visual Fits in the Teaching of Regression Concepts

Abstract

This article describes the pedagogical benefits of a classroom exercise that involves interactive graphical techniques on the personal computer. In the exercise, a microcomputer-based software routine termed LINEFIT is used in a statistics course to enhance student understanding of regression concepts. LINEFIT allows the student to visually fit a simple linear regression model to a screen display of points plotted on an (x—y) coordinate system. The comparison of these visual fits to the fits produced by standard statistical procedures such as ordinary least squares or minimum absolute deviation provides the basis for a discussion of the problem of fitting a straight line to a set of points.

Key Words:

• Graphics
• Interactive graphics
• Pedagogical tool
• Perceptual fits
• Scatterplots