STUDENTS' "MULTI-SAMPLE DISTRIBUTION" MISCONCEPTION ABOUT SAMPLING DISTRIBUTIONS.

The sampling distribution (SD) is a foundational concept in statistics, and simulations of repeated sampling can be helpful to understanding them. However, it is possible for simulations to be misleading and it is important for research to identify possible pitfalls in order to use simulations most effectively. In this study, we report on a key misconception students had about SDs that we call the "multi-sample distribution." In this misconception, students came to believe that a SD was composed of multiple samples, instead of all possible samples, and that the SD must be constructed by literally taking multiple samples, instead of existing theoretically. We also discuss possible origins of this misconception in connection with simulations, as well as how some students appeared to resolve this misconception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]