Knowledge of basic mathematics as a predictor of success in elementary statistics

Abstract

Students following a degree course in chemistry were given an ‘O'‐level revision course in mathematics plus an introduction to calculus. A major purpose of the course is preparation for a course in quantitative methods. To determine the extent to which knowledge of the basic mathematics of the revision course is helpful for studying statistics (quantitative methods), final examination scores of the basic mathematics and statistics were compared. Analysis of the data indicates little correlation between knowledge of the basic mathematics of the revision course and success in elementary statistics.