L1 · The Statistical Process: Question, Collect, Represent, Interpret

Learning goal

“I can run a whole data investigation in four steps - ask a statistical question, collect the data, represent it in a graph, and interpret what the graph tells us - and I can read a one-to-one pictograph where each symbol stands for exactly one.”

Statistical question — a question that is answered by collecting data from many people or things, like "Which fruit do students like best?" It does not have just one person's answer.

Data — the information we collect: the answers, counts and measurements.

Represent — to show the data in a graph so other people can see it.

Interpret — to read a graph and say what it tells us: what is most, what is least, and what we might decide.

Worked example

A Grade 4 class runs a full investigation. Step 1 - QUESTION: "Which recess activity do Grade 4 students choose most?" Step 2 - COLLECT: every student picks one activity. The counts are: Tag 12, Swings 8, Soccer 10, Reading 6. Step 3 - REPRESENT: a pictograph is drawn with one star symbol for each student (one-to-one). The Tag row has 12 stars, Swings 8 stars, Soccer 10 stars, Reading 6 stars. Beside the graph is the key: "Each star = 1 student." Step 4 - INTERPRET: Tag is chosen most (12 students). Reading is chosen least (6 students). In all, 12 + 8 + 10 + 6 = 36 students answered. Say it plainly: the four steps always march in the same order, and each step needs the one before it. No question -> you don't know what to collect. No collecting -> nothing to draw. No graph -> the story stays hidden in a pile of counts.

Check yourself — explain it

Why does the investigation start with a question instead of with collecting?

Paired problem — example still visible

Here is a new investigation: "Which drink do students choose at lunch?" Counts: Milk 14, Juice 9, Water 11. Which step of the process are these counts? -> Step 2, collect - they are the data gathered by asking

Faded completion — last step is yours

"The four steps in order are: 1 question, 2 collect, 3 ___, 4 ___. The step where we SAY what the graph tells us is step ___." -> represent; interpret; 4

Ready to practise?

10 scored questions with a 3-rung hint ladder. Mastery needs 8/10 plus both gate questions.

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