PERFORMANCE OF ANGOLAN HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENTS IN DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS: SELECTION VERSUS APPLICATION

Abstract

This article studies the performance of Angolan higher education students when selecting and applying Descriptive Statistics tools, graphical and numerical tools, as well as comparing the performance when selecting and applying these tools. Eighty-seven higher education students participated in the study, who were attending the 2nd year of the Degree in Accounting and Management and in Animal Science, at a Higher Polytechnic Institute of Angola. The students answered a questionnaire about the selection and application of Descriptive Statistics tools, namely, table and graphic representations, location and dispersion statistics, symmetry and dispersion of a distribution and linear correlation and regression statistics. In terms of results, in general, the poor performance of students in both the selection and application of statistical tools and a better performance in selection than in the application of these tools stand out. These results highlight the need to improve student performance, as Descriptive Statistics tools are of the utmost relevance for employment, everyday life, and social participation.