Statistical Literacy Among Applied Linguistics Doctoral Students in Morocco

Abstract

Statistics has always been a significant tool at the disposal of the applied linguistics researcher to analyze and interpret data. In Morocco, however, little is known about applied linguistics doctoral students’ level of statistical mastery, and how it shapes their attitudes towards statistics. This study examined 57 doctoral candidates’ knowledge of statistics, and explored their attitudes towards statistics employed in applied linguistics research. The study used the statistical literacy questionnaire adapted by Loewen et al. (2014) to measure self-reported knowledge of statistics and students’ attitudes. Results showed that the participants are familiar to a large extent with basic descriptive statistics, moderate extent with inferential statistics and to an extremely small extent with advanced statistics. The results also showed that, as beginning researchers, they perceive statistics as an important tool for sound research design. The study suggests some recommendations based on these findings in order to advance quantitative research in the Moroccan doctoral training programs.