Decolonising the social statistics curriculum – why it is important

Doebler, Stefanie (2024) Decolonising the social statistics curriculum – why it is important. Radical Statistics, 136. pp. 3-16. ISSN 0268-6376

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Abstract

Decolonizing the curriculum has gained momentum in UK academia in recent years, especially in the social sciences. However, quantitative sections within social science departments have been slow to engage, despite obvious historical links between statistics, Eugenics, racism and the Western colonization of data in the Global South. There is an emerging literature, and notable decolonizing efforts have been made by Radstats members in recent years. I argue that University statistics and methods teaching cannot ignore this dark history and must query links between this history and decolonizing, and how engaging with it can enrich our collective learning.