27th Annual Student Research Conference
Statistics Skills Preferred by Social Work Graduate Programs
Abigail M. Nehrkorn*, Gail I. Harmata, David Schultz, Clare N. Fielding, Monica R. DeBold, and Jeffrey V. Leafblad
Dr. David B. Conner and Dr. Jeffrey Vittengl, Faculty Mentors
Adequate knowledge of statistical analyses and software obtained during undergraduate education is essential to succeed in social work graduate programs. The current study is in the process of electronically surveying approximately 237 programs, as obtained from CSWE (Council on Social Work Education), to determine desired statistical skills, familiarity of statistical software packages, and current preparedness of incoming social work graduate students. Data is currently being gathered to obtain results. As was found from a previous study, which looked at psychology graduate programs and statistical skills, the incoming students were only partially prepared to meet the programs statistical demands. As technology and budget issues lead to changes in teaching methods about statistical analysis, it is somewhat difficult to know what graduate programs expect of their incoming students. However, undergraduate student familiarity of statistical software packages seems to be increasingly more important for achieving readiness to attend most graduate programs.
Keywords: statistics software, statistical skills, graduate programs, survey, statistical analyses, graduate school preparation, social work graduate school, undergraduate statistics
Topic(s):Psychology
Statistics
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 408-2
Location: MG 2001
Time: 2:45