Gerd "I love heuristics" Gigernezer talking about the misinterpretation of research by the medi a (in particular, misinterpretation of data about oral contraceptives leads to increases in abortions). He argues that such misinterpretation isn't just bad reporting, but unethical.

Here is a basic lesson plan that one could use to teach the hypothesis testing method in a statistics course. I teach in a computer lab but I think it could be modified for a non-lab setting, especially if you use a smart classroom. The lesson involves learning about a company that makes web-based games that improve memory (specifically, I use the efficacy testing the company did to provide evidence that their games do improve memory). Posit Science is a company that makes computer based games that are intended to improve memory. I use material from the company's website when teaching my students about the scientific method. Here is what I do... Property of positscience.com

Hey, nerds. Some big, big nerds generated a bunch of statistical graphs and analyses using content analysis data gleaned from the Tolkien's novels. Teach your students about nerdy, nerdy correlations: Content analysis for positive and negative affect:

Khan Academy has plenty of fair use videos for "learning anything". They have a number of statistics/probability examples in their library. Including the Central Limit Theorem video below (I highlight this one as CLT usually leads to a lot of head scratching in my class).

Andy Field is a psychologist, statistician, and author. He created a funny, Dante's Inferno-themed  web site that contains everything you ever wanted to know about statistics. I know, I know, you're thinking, "Not another Dante's Inferno themed statistics web site!". But give this one a try. Property of Andy Field. I certainly can't take credit for this. Some highlights: 1) The aesthetic is priceless. For example, his intermediate statistics page begins with the introduction, "You will experience the bowel-evacuating effect of multiple regression, the bone-splintering power of ANOVA and the nose-hair pulling torment of factor analysis. Can you cope: I think not, mortal filth. Be warned, your brain will be placed in a jar of cerebral fluid and I will toy with it at my leisure." 2) It is all free. Including worksheets, data, etc. How amazing and generous. And, if you are feeling generous and feel the need to compensate him for the website, ...

If you aren't familiar with cracked.com, it is a website that composes lists. Some are pretty amusing ( 6 Myths About Psychology That Everyone (Wrongly) Believes ,  6 Things Your Body Does Every Day That Science Can't Explain ). An d some are even educational, like "The five most popular ways statistics are used to lie to you" . from cracked.com The list contains good points to encourage critical thinking in your students. Some of the specific points it touches upon: 1) When it is more appropriate to use median than mean. 2) False positives 3) Absolute versus relative changes in amount 4) Probability 5) Correlation does not equal causation And you'll get mad street cred points from undergraduates for using a Cracked list. Trust me.