Statistical Literacy

Statistical literacy is the ability to understand statistics. Statistical literacy is necessary for citizens to understand material presented in publications such as newspapers, television, and the Internet. Numeracy is a prerequisite to being statistically literate. Being statistically literate is sometimes taken to include having both the ability to critically evaluate statistical material and to appreciate the relevance of statistically-based approaches to all aspects of life in general. H.G. Wells is often cited as saying that statistical understanding will one day be as important as being able to read or write but he may have been referring more to the older idea of political arithmetic than modern statistics.