The International Research Collaboration on Statistical Reasoning, Thinking, and Literacy (SRTL) began in 1999 to foster current and innovative research studies that examine the nature and development of statistical literacy, reasoning, and thinking, and to explore the challenge posed to educators at all levels— and to develop these desired learning goals for students. The SRTL Research Forums – that were established and are co-chaired by Joan Garfield and Dani Ben-Zvi – offer scientific gatherings every two years sponsored by various international academic institutions.

The Research Forums offer an opportunity for a small, interdisciplinary group of researchers from around the world to share their work, discuss important issues, and initiate collaborative projects. The first five research forums were held in Israel (1999), Australia (“Reasoning about Statistics”, 2001), USA (“Statistical Reasoning about Variability,” 2003), New Zealand (“Statistical Reasoning About Distribution,” 2005), and UK (“Reasoning about Informal Inference”, 2007). The sixth research forum will take place in the University of Queensland, Australia, in 2009, and will focus on “Arguments and Explanations that Draw on Evidence and Context to Make Statistical Inferences”.

As a result of these gatherings, there is now a growing network of researchers interested in studying the development of students’ statistical literacy, reasoning, and thinking at all age levels. The topics of these research studies conducted by members of this community reflect the shift in emphasis in statistics instruction, from focusing on procedural understanding, i.e., statistical techniques, formulas, computations and procedures, to developing conceptual understanding and statistical literacy, reasoning and thinking. The SRTL Collaboration resulted in several publications including special issues of Statistics Education Research Journal (SERJ), articles in other refereed journals, books, and curricular materials.