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Year 8

Statistical problems - data collection

I can choose what data needs to be collected to explore a statistical problem.

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New
New
Year 8

Statistical problems - data collection

I can choose what data needs to be collected to explore a statistical problem.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Different statistical problems need investigating in different ways.
  2. Effective data collection avoids bias where appropriate.
  3. When sampling from a population, the sample size needs to be practical.

Common misconception

The word 'population' always refers to the entire population of a country or the world.

The population in a given context is defined by the entire set of people/creatures/items that are being considered.

Keywords

  • Population - The population is the entire set of people, creatures, plants or items that make up the whole group which is being studied.

  • Bias - Bias can be present in any sample collected from a population and may affect the results of a statistical investigation

  • Sample - A sample is a subset of the population

To distinguish between different populations, ask "What is the population of this class? Estimate the population of the year group. Estimate the population of the school. Estimate the population of the town. Estimate the population of the country.".
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
When you count how many individuals (people, animals etc.) are in each category of a data set you are finding the for each category.
Correct Answer: frequency, FREQUENCY
Q2.
Put the stages of a data investigation in order.
1 - asking a question to explore
2 - collecting data
3 - organising the data
4 - analysing the data
5 - interpreting the data
6 - choosing outcomes or actions based on the results
Q3.
Which of these data sets can only contain integer values?
distances travelled on a train (miles)
Correct answer: number of people travelling on a train
time spent on a train (minutes)
weights of trains (tons)
Q4.
Which tool measures length?
Correct answer: measuring tape
stop watch
weighing scales
Q5.
What is the frequency of 'moon' in the list?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 4, four
Q6.
Which is an example of a tally chart?
Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which tool could be used to collect data about how satisfied customers are after using their business?
measuring tape
Correct answer: questionnaire
timer
weighing scales
Q2.
Which tool could you use to collect data about the frequencies of different species of birds that land in a garden?
interview
questionnaire
Correct answer: tally chart
timer
Q3.
Which word describes the entire set of people, creatures, plants or items that make up the whole group that is being studied in a data investigation?
bias
method
Correct answer: population
sample
Q4.
A is a subset of the population of a data investigation.
Correct Answer: sample, SAMPLE
Q5.
Alex wants to investigate how much time 16 year-old pupils in the UK spend doing homework per week. What is the population in Alex's investigation?
all school pupils in the UK
Correct answer: all 16 year-old school pupils in the UK
all pupils in Alex's school
all 16 year-old pupils in Alex's school
Q6.
Laura wants to investigate how much time pupils in her school spend watching cartoons per week. Which of these samples would be the most representative of the population in Laura's investigation?
20 people in the oldest year group
20 people in the middle year group
10 people from the oldest year group and 10 people from the youngest year group
Correct answer: 4 people from each of the 5 year groups in the school