How difficult is a statistics course for someone horrible at math? (high school, accepted)

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by sheena12

The OP MAY have dycscaculia and there is evidence that she might. That evidence is that she has navigated her way through almost four years of college without a problem. She is motivated to graduate and seems otherwise well educated and academically inclined.

Other signs of dyscaculia are :

1. Inability to read music - yet now problem playing an instument with out music.

2. Difficulty with games of strategy, such as chess.

3. Problems using an analog clock.

4. directional impairment

5. difficulty discerning left and right.

There are others, but these come to mind. On the website dycaculia.org, there is a simple test and more information.

It may not be the case, but it well could be. I think that at this point it is orth exploring.

You know, my husband has these two in bold, and he excels at math, has a PhD in physics; ditto the little DD who is getting an MPH with an emphasis on epidemiolgy. But sure, the OP can see if she meets the criteria for a diagnosis.

[imcurious]

I am not a fan of math - simple algebra and basic math skills are my basic forte - but I took two college statistics classes and didn't have any problem at all.

[sheena12]

Originally Posted by imcurious

I am not a fan of math - simple algebra and basic math skills are my basic forte - but I took two college statistics classes and didn't have any problem at all.

Some people don't have this diagnoses and yet may exhibit one or more of these features.

The thing that I was attempting to point out by my posts is that it does exist and that it is not widely recognized. Many people confuse it with Math Anxiety, and dislike of Math.

A person with dyscaculia often also has math anxiety and a dislike of math.

But not everyone with Math Anxiety, and who strongly dislikes Math has dyscalculia.

[lkb0714]

Originally Posted by sabride

Pretty much two things now standing between me and my Bachelor's. College Algebra and an introductory statistics course.

I have other courses needed to graduate but no worries about the rest of them. Just these two.

I have posted elsewhere on CD about my math struggles. Assuming I can, by some miracle, manage to get through college algebra, I will then need an intro statistics course (psychology). How difficult will this be? What kind of math knowledge is used/needed?

When I had a different degree plan, I would have had the option of taking "contemporary math" (aka Liberal Arts math) instead of college algebra, and it was considered acceptable as a pre-req for a different introductory statistics course (criminology for example), just not THIS statistics course (psych) so I wonder.

Stats is a science not a math, I know its usually offered by the math department but it is the study of data and data collection. It just relies heavily on math the same way physics does.

Intro to stats is not hard in terms of math. Mostly basic math skills aka MDAS and some exponents. Very basic algebra to find equations of the line (to do correlation) and the ability to use a formula (for t-tests, and ANOVAs). The formulas themselves look intimidating but really it is just plugging in the numbers.

[Sally_Sparrow]

Originally Posted by sheena12

Some people don't have this diagnoses and yet may exhibit one or more of these features.

The thing that I was attempting to point out by my posts is that it does exist and that it is not widely recognized. Many people confuse it with Math Anxiety, and dislike of Math.

A person with dyscaculia often also has math anxiety and a dislike of math.

But not everyone with Math Anxiety, and who strongly dislikes Math has dyscalculia.

I certainly have some math anxiety, but what is odd is that I really don't *dislike* math! There are often periods in class where I seem to grasp it and it is kind of fun. I don't like the fact that I cannot recall how to do stuff an hour later and certainly not by test time, but during actual class time I don't hate it. Some math topics at least.

[robertpolyglot]

It depends. Can you do basic algebra? If so, it's not bad at all.

Just don't let the Greek symbols wig you out. "Sigma" means you add a bunch of stuff together.

At any rate, kiss the ground. The calculus "think thank" geeks worked out all the derivatives and integrals for distributions and whatnot so it could be delivered to general ed level, and higher, without the use of advanced math.

[TheNOLArtist]

Originally Posted by Sally_Sparrow

Pretty much two things now standing between me and my Bachelor's. College Algebra and an introductory statistics course.

I have other courses needed to graduate but no worries about the rest of them. Just these two.

I have posted elsewhere on CD about my math struggles. Assuming I can, by some miracle, manage to get through college algebra, I will then need an intro statistics course (psychology). How difficult will this be? What kind of math knowledge is used/needed?

When I had a different degree plan, I would have had the option of taking "contemporary math" (aka Liberal Arts math) instead of college algebra, and it was considered acceptable as a pre-req for a different introductory statistics course (criminology for example), just not THIS statistics course (psych) so I wonder.

Really understand your difficulties with math. I barely got my Associates degree with College Algebra. I am as beside myself, as you were in January 2013!

Hope all went well with your course and that you graduated!

Congratulations to you Sally_Sparrow!!

Please let me know how elementary statistics was for you - I am a psychology major also!
So close to getting bachelor degree, the only subject standing in my way is elementary statistics.

Thank you for any insight you could share about your experience into this bleak position that I have found myself in this semester. Hopefully will shed some light as to whether or not I should take it this semester. Like you, I am extremely concerned if I can successfully accomplish my degree because of this math course.

My first semester was August 2013, took me so long because of math. Had to drop College Algebra twice, and finally this last Spring, passed it with a C. One more to go.

Thank you again Sally_Sparrow &
Happy New Year 2019!!! ����

[TheNOLArtist]

Originally Posted by Sally_Sparrow

Pretty much two things now standing between me and my Bachelor's. College Algebra and an introductory statistics course.

I have other courses needed to graduate but no worries about the rest of them. Just these two.

I have posted elsewhere on CD about my math struggles. Assuming I can, by some miracle, manage to get through college algebra, I will then need an intro statistics course (psychology). How difficult will this be? What kind of math knowledge is used/needed?

When I had a different degree plan, I would have had the option of taking "contemporary math" (aka Liberal Arts math) instead of college algebra, and it was considered acceptable as a pre-req for a different introductory statistics course (criminology for example), just not THIS statistics course (psych) so I wonder.

I really do get the difficulty with math, I barely got my Associates degree with College Algebra. I am as beside myself, as you were in January 2013! I hope all went well with your course and that you graduated! Congratulations to you!! Please let me know how elementary statistics was for you - I am a psychology major also! So close to getting degree, thank you for any insight you could lend about your experience into this bleak position that I have found myself in this semester.
Thank you again Sally_Sparrow &
Happy New Year 2019!!!

[wannabeaTexan]

Originally Posted by TheNOLArtist

I really do get the difficulty with math, I barely got my Associates degree with College Algebra. I am as beside myself, as you were in January 2013! I hope all went well with your course and that you graduated! Congratulations to you!! Please let me know how elementary statistics was for you - I am a psychology major also! So close to getting degree, thank you for any insight you could lend about your experience into this bleak position that I have found myself in this semester.
Thank you again Sally_Sparrow &
Happy New Year 2019!!!

Sorry - have no experience with Statistics, but I was in the same boat you are in now. I also struggled with College Math getting my Associate’s completed. I hate math. I was dreading taking Statistics based on others’ experiences I read. Fortunately, when I transferred to the 4-year, I had the option of Statistics or Logic. I chose Logic and found it fairly easy and fun except for one module when it started getting very complicated. Didn’t do well on that & ended up with a B in the class. Have you considered Logic if it’s available?

[nobodysbusiness]

I'm just "okay" at advanced math, but had no problem with two courses of college statistics.

I wouldn't worry about it.