Issues in Teaching Statistical Thinking with Spreadsheets

Abstract

Spreadsheet software is widely used and now includes statistical functionality. This paper discusses the issues raised in teaching statistics with spreadsheet software. The principal concerns relate to aspects of the spreadsheet view of computation that make it difficult to keep track of what calculations have actually been carried out or to control the spreadsheet by means of a script. We also discuss a number of other advantages and deficiencies of spreadsheets for teaching statistics.

• Spreadsheet software
• Computing paradigm
• Statistical functions
• Audit files

Acknowledgment

The referees of this paper made a number of sensible and constructive comments that have been incorporated here.