QUANTITATIVE LITERACY

Inside Quantitative Literacy shape, a woman is presenting an graph to another person at student fair.

The ability to

➔ Work with numbers and variables

➔ Interpret quantitative information

➔ Recognize the strengths and limitations of quantitative approaches

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Percentage of Employers looking for Quantitative Based Skills

73%

of employers say “Analyzing and interpreting data” is very important in identifying strong job candidates.
– American Association of Colleges and Universities, The Career Ready Graduate, 2023

66%

of employers seek “Analytic/quantitative skills” on a candidate’s resume.
– National Association of Colleges and Employers, Job Outlook 2024

Students doing math homework together.

Elements


Identify Opportunity
Identify problems for which a  quantitative approach is appropriate and what quantitative methods can be employed to solve these problems.

Apply and Solve
Having identified the appropriate method, apply it to solving a problem.

Communicate
Explain the steps in the computational process.

Interpret
Explain the meaning of quantitative information in context.

Strengths and weaknesses of quantitative approach in the human context
Understand both the power of quantitative reasoning when addressing complex issues, as well as the limitations, ethical implications, and potential biases when applying quantitative reasoning in broader contexts.

    Guiding Questions

    • Am I comfortable working with numbers and variables as well as implementing proper mathematical operations with them?
    • What is the most appropriate mathematical procedure and logical analysis I should follow in order to arrive at a solution for a given problem?
    • Can I explain the proper steps of a particular quantitative procedure to arrive at an accurate and appropriate solution?
    • Can I read a quantitative solution to a problem and understand it well enough to explain it to someone else? 
    • Can I understand and explain the broader implications of quantitative solutions within the context that they were generated? 
    • What are the strengths and weaknesses of my quantitative problem solving methods? 
    • What ethical concerns or implicit biases in my quantitative problem solving methods may complicate or call into question my conclusions? 

    Competency Fellow

    Melanie Brown mbrown@champlain.edu
    More Info