Teaching Statistics with Current and Historical Events: An Analysis of Survivor Data From the Sinking of the HMT Birkenhead, the RMS Titanic, and the Korean Ferry MV Sewol

Citation: Lee, Y., Schumm, W. R., Lockett, L., Newsom, K. C., & Behan, K. (2016). Teaching Statistics with Current and Historical Events: An Analysis of Survivor Data From the Sinking of the HMT Birkenhead, the RMS Titanic, and the Korean Ferry MV Sewol. Comprehensive Psychology, 5, 216522281664790. https://doi.org/10.1177/2165222816647900Statistical examples can feel remote to students, especially if the variables under consideration are ambiguous. However, life or death is not ambiguous but very concrete. Three different historical shipwrecks offer an abundance of ways to demonstrate the relevance and importance of statistics. Here, we discuss statistical outcomes associated with the loss of three ships: the HMT Birkenhead in 1852, the RMS Titanic in 1912, and the Korean ferry MV Sewol in April 2014. These disasters can serve as examples for demonstrating the relevance of statistics to current events. Statistics in these historical events can help students see that the survival rates of different groups of passengers were very different, with medium to large effect sizes. Even if statistical analyses cannot answer all of the questions about why some passengers had higher survival rates than others, they can lead to further productive qualitative or quantitative research into such questions

“I am not a victim, I am a survivor”: healthy sexuality as a context for resilience in women survivors of childhood sexual abuse

Doctor of PhilosophyDepartment of Family Studies and Human ServicesKaren S. Myers-BowmanThe current study was conducted with women survivors of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) about their experiences of resilience in the context of interpersonal and sexually intimate relationships. Six women between the ages of 18 and 55, who self-identified as resilient on the pre-screening form, were invited to participate in the study. Qualitative methods with a phenomenological lens were employed. One-on-one interviews were conducted with participants. The results revealed the perspective and focus the survivors have regarding resilience and sexuality in interpersonal relationships. The participants had very similar thought patterns, which supports the idea that women survivors who self-identify as resilient have very similar experiences when it comes to resilience, relationship functioning and the view of themselves as sexual beings. Some of the main themes that emerged included but were not limited to bouncing back, moving forward, determination, confidence, use of voice, safe, loving relationships, empowered, church, God, religion, etc. Although each woman’s experience is not exactly the same, their views regarding their mental, emotional, and physical experiences as survivors of CSA were very similar