Inaugural John Hooper Medal for Statistics Results
The inaugural John Hooper Medal for Statistics competition has been a great success this year. Thanks to all the schools, teachers and students who took part and made the competition such a success. It is heartening to see the depth of creativity, talent and knowledge displayed in the posters submitted. Congratulations to all the students who took part in the competition and submitted a poster.
The John Hooper Medal for Statistics was launched by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) on the first World Statistics Day on 20th October 2010. 256 student groups in total registered for the competition from the whole island of Ireland. 101 posters, both Irish and English language entries, were received in the CSO.
The 101 posters were initially judged by a team from the CSO according to the judging criteria outlined by the International Statistical Literacy Program and 12 posters were shortlisted for the final judging phase. The final judging panel chaired by Dr. Patrick Quill consisted of:
Dr. Ailish Hannigan
Lecturer in Statistics
Dept. of Mathematics and Statistics
University of Limerick
Dr. Aisling Leavy
National coordinator for the International Statistical Literacy Project in Ireland
Department of Language and Mathematics Education
R124 Mary Immaculate College, Limerick
John McKeon
Regional Development Officer
Project Maths Development Team, Kildare
Fiona O'Callaghan
Statistician
Agriculture Data/Prices Division
Central Statistics Office, Cork
Dr. Patrick Quill,
Statistician
Department of Finance, Dublin
The panel had the difficult task to assess the shortlisted posters and pick the winners. In the interest of fairness and impartiality in both judging phases any identification of the students/schools on the posters were covered throughout the judging process.
The results of the final judges deliberations are given below:
Inaugural John Hooper Medal for Statistics 2011
Winners:
First prize and winners of the John Hooper Medal for Statistics
Students: Michael Stone, Naoise Dack
Teacher: Lesley Byrne
Belvedere College,
Great Denmark Street,
Dublin 1
This poster will represent Ireland in the International Statistical Literacy Program poster competition in the category - students born in 1992 and younger
Second prize
Students: Isabel O'Mahony, Alison Hennessy
Teacher: Nuala McCarthy
St. Marys High School,
Midleton,
Co. Cork
This poster will represent Ireland in the International Statistical Literacy Program poster competition in the category - students born in 1995 and younger
Third prize
Students: Aidan O' Mahony, Shane Kelly
Teacher: Eva Ní Chionnfhaolaidh
Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh Meal Sior Anraí,
Luimneach
The John Hooper Medal for Statistics awards ceremony will take place in Dublin, following the start on the new school year in September 2011. Details will be posted on the CSO website.
Order of Merit
The following posters were given an order by the judges:
Students: Julia Gibbons, Denise Sutton and Aoife Clancy
Teacher: Margaret Smith
Ursuline Secondary School,
Thurles,
Co. Tipperary
Students: Alex Avis, Fergal Tynan
Teacher: Sinead Cryan
Youthreach Old Vocational School,
Ballaghaderreen,
Co. Roscommon
Students: Lauren Sarsfield, Rebecca McKeown
Teacher: Marguerite Norris
Dominican College,
205 Griffith Avenue,
Dublin 9
Students: Rachel O'Beirne, Aoife Daly
Teacher: Marguerite Norris
Dominican College,
209 Griffith Avenue,
Dublin 9
Students: Caroline Reilly, Denise Lynch, Eimear O Reilly
Teacher: Anna Coyle
Breifne College,
Cootehill Rd,
Cavan Town,
Co. Cavan
Students: Ruth Kelly, Jane furlong, Mirana Fozliu
Teacher: Winifred O'Toole
St. Angela's Ursuline Convent,
Ballytruckle Rd,
Waterford
Students: Laura Duncan, Sarah Topham, Katie Harrington
Teacher: Maureen Foley
Pobail Inbhear Scéine,
Kenmare,
Co Kerry
Students: Ailsing Irwin, Charlotte Frotsch
Teacher: Maureen Foley
Pobail Inbhear Scéine,
Kenmare,
Co Kerry
Students: Clodagh Somers, Tori Hehir
Teacher: Eva Ní Chionnfhaolaidh
Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh Meal Sior Anraí,
Luimneach
View the posters
View a sample of the other entries here
Feedback from the judges on the posters
Some feedback from the Chair of the final judging panel on the posters, itemised by the International Statistical Literacy Program judging criteria, could help students improve future statistical work.
Feedback by International Statistical Literacy Program poster criteria
Very good generally. Most posters clearly expressed a hypothesis and result.
Issues that could be addressed here:
There is scope here for students to use measures of centre and spread. Spread was not used enough. Discussion of bias was limited.
Selection of the most suitable representation of the results is an important consideration. Naming sources of data used in graphs, tables and on the poster is vital.
Students could look at official statistics to see how data are presented.
Creativity in the choice of the issue addressed in a poster is important.
Thank you
Congratulations on your involvement in the inaugural John Hooper Medal for Statistics poster competition. Best of luck to the winning posters going forward to represent Ireland in the International Statistical Literacy Program poster competition, the CSO wish you every success. Thank you to all the people who participated, assisted or were otherwise instrumental in making our first poster competition such a great success.
Feedback welcome
Please send your feedback and comments on the John Hooper Medal for Statistics poster competition to islp@cso.ie.
