0.7: Approach to Learning Statistics

Taking courses and reading textbooks is not enough to compel you to learn these skills. If you want to master statistics and are not enrolled in a research-oriented graduate program, quite frankly, you are in the wrong course and program.

You will encounter individuals with different opinions about the right thing to do in statistics. Different individuals will want more advanced statistics, they will want you to collect more data, they will ask you to check this or that possibility, they will ask you to test everything to cover all bases, to be thorough, they will say you are doing it wrong. Each person has their own approach they think is correct. Other professions have similar experiences. Different home improvement contractors will have different opinions of what must be done, and they will chastise others and the quality of their work. Different chefs have their own way of making the same dish. Different approaches and conclusions use the same context, situation, and data. It’s hard to know what the “right way” is of going about learning statistics.

What does help you learn these skills?

Learning anything is a multi-faceted process. People who master statistics take several courses, attend several workshops, engage in research projects to apply statistics, join research groups, and are immersed in this process. Mentoring helps. Every person who becomes proficient in their field has had a mentor who guided their development, allowed questions and curiosities, and provided opportunities to practice applying their skills.

Most of us want a “working knowledge” of statistics. I propose that “working knowledge” means we want to read, review, understand, and discuss statistics in the context of understanding the craft of psychology. Instead, consider the following position - follow your curiosity. Move statistics out of the realm of overwhelming math, tense, bewildering discussions, and advanced intellectual discourse. Move your statistics into the realm of satisfying your own curiosity. To satisfy your own curiosity, start with your emotions. Tune into your own emotions about what makes you engaged and excited about your interest in your psychology topic. Approach statistics by understanding how statistics will help you understand your psychology topic. It is better to learn statistics in the context of understanding your psychology topic than understanding statistics by itself in the form of math equations and numbers. Use your own interest in psychology to guide your use of statistics.

I offer the following guides to serve your curiosity best. Start by thinking conceptually about statistics. Conceptual thinking involves the “why” of statistics. Why is it important to have a normal distribution? Conceptual thinking involves how this stuff works together. How do we understand the p value and effect size in determining significance and meaning?

Conceptual thinking is better than following the rules. Statistics is not a cookbook; it is not an IKEA manual; it is not “Statistics for Dummies.” It is not a step-by-step process. It does require you to attend to the context and the scope of how you are applying statistics to answer your curiosity. Just because you take a course in statistics does not mean you are ready. There is an art to practicing statistics, and learning this new skill takes discussion, mentoring, and the freedom to ask questions. But it does take your effort, and you must begin somewhere. Start with what you know, your experience, your curiosity. If you are starting from a place of vulnerability where you feel scared, unprepared, bewildered, lost, avoidant, or indifferent, do not start there. Only you can change your starting point from a place of weakness, fear, or apathy to a place that feels engaged and positive. Start with your curiosity, start with what feels good about what you find interesting about psychology and social justice, and then figure out how to use statistics to further your curiosity.

What does help if you want to learn statistics? There seems to be universal techniques, mindsets, and practices for anyone to learn anything and adopt new habits. I would contend that psychologists espouse these same habits for their clients when they want to recover from their mental health distress.

Let us start here - Set aside the time to learn statistics. Everything we learn, develop, and nurture takes more time than we think. If you want to work out, you gotta make the time. You want to publish a creative writing piece, you gotta make the time. If you want to learn a hobby, you gotta make the time. Same with statistics. The “times four rule” applies here. Whatever you think about how much time it takes to do something, take that time and multiply it by four, and that is how long it really takes. The “times four rule” means that whenever we start something, there is always an anomaly, an oddity, a setback, or a mistake, which means you have to start over. Nothing goes linearly from point A to point B. Things happen that derail us. That is part of the gig. But that also means if you want to learn statistics and do a project, be aware that it will be a struggle, and it is common to spend more time than you think on it. That doesn’t mean that you are not effective or don’t know what you are doing; the struggle bus is part of the gig.

Know when to quit and seek help. We get frustrated when our statistical effort does not work. Know your limits and seek help if you hit a wall. I am reminded of my workout instructor – “If it hurts, don’t do it.” Your body has limits, and if you are in pain, stop. Seek help and see if you need to adjust or something. The internet is full of listservs, message boards and so forth that might help you with whatever you encounter. You are always welcome to contact me using my contact information. Just ask; it never hurts to ask.

Have a plan. Learning any endeavor means having a structure to learn. Practicing music requires warmups with scales, practicing your breathing using long tones, practicing your fluid playing using legato exercises, practicing your articulation with staccato studies, and practicing your expression by practicing the pieces you will perform. Working out requires warmups, then focusing on which body part to build, then on aerobics, then on building your core, then cool down and stretches. Learning statistics follows similar routines. Start with reading, start with demonstrations, start with datasets, take courses, and take workshops.

Get a mentor. As an extension of having a plan, it helps to have a mentor. Practicing music requires a private teacher; working out requires a coach. Even Neil Peart, the best drummer on the planet, took lessons from Freddie Gruber to learn more about his craft. In statistics, you are on your way if you can find a trusted mentor. If you need one, ask me.

Change your mindset. There is no “secret sauce,” as my colleague likes to say, no gift to give you to transform you into a statistician. The mindset of “I just want to get through this” will not help you absorb these lessons. If you have a problem where statistics blocks your thinking, sit with that block and ask yourself if you want to let that block define you. Then, get help with your mindset block because you need someone else to find your potential for learning statistics or anything else for that matter.

Stress is an opportunity, not a signal of impending failure. Related to the previous point, stress does not mean you failed; stress means that something needs addressing. When you are stressed about statistics, it is a learning opportunity, not a sign of failure.

Put yourself out of your comfort zone. Related to the previous point, venturing out of your comfort zone will yield dividends. Joining statistical teams and being part of research projects are ways to get yourself involved in the process. You might not feel ready, but no one is ever ready.

Being constant. Like everything, keep at it. Show up. Statistics is hard to learn, but by continuing to apply what you know, improvement will happen. Progress is slow. According to workout coaches, it takes four weeks of workout to gain muscle and two weeks of atrophy to lose it. Slowly build your competency. And try not to let it slack.