Select and use appropriate statistical methods to collect, organise, display and analyse continuous data Develop and evaluate inferences in order to make decisions and predictions based on the data
Conceptual Framework
communication representation, justification in the context of Fairness and Development
Statements of Inquiry
Students will appreciate the need to represent large amounts of real-world data using appropriate diagrams in order to recognize patterns, make predictions and provide solutions to global issues
Factual
What diagrams are typically used to represent discrete statistical data?
What diagrams are typically used to represent continuous statistical data?
Conceptual
How reliable are estimates of measures of centre?
How important is the need to understand measures of spread within a dataset?
Debatable
Should important decisions be made based upon statistical analysis?
Is it possible to make reliable inferences about a population?
Description
The focus of this unit will be on statistical techniques involving the collection, representation and analysis of discrete forms of data. Students will learn about sampling techniques in order to collect reliable data, use statistical diagrams and tables to organize and represent the data, then analyze patterns and make inferences based on their results. Certain measures of centre and spread will be calculated and interpreted in terms of which measure is most important in a given situation. Students will investigate the use of Google spreadsheets in presenting data and how data can be skewed to present it in a more appealing light leading to misinterpretation. The unit will culminate in students undertaking the statistical method to collect, present and analyze a discrete data set in the context of fairness and global development.
Learning Outcomes
Refine understanding of key terms including population, sample, random sample, census, survey, categorical data and numerical data
Understand the difference between a census and a sample
Determine the validity of a sample whether or not it is unbiased, representative, stratified, or random
Use calculators and spreadsheets to generate discrete data using random numbers
Select, create, display and analyze appropriate graphical representations for discrete numerical data and grouped discrete numerical data including dot plot, stem-and-leaf plots, frequency tables, column graph, line graph, pie chart, divided bar graph, scatter plot, picture graph etc.
Create and interpret box-and-whisker plots
Calculate the measures of central tendency, mean, median and mode, and decide on the appropriate measure to use under different circumstances
Calculate measures of spread of data including range and interquartile range and interpret the significance of the values
Use an Excel or Google spreadsheet to generate statistical diagrams
Analyze and describe the distribution of data using terms such as symmetrical, positively skewed, negatively skewed, and outliers
Identify misleading graphs and statistics
Develop understanding of the statistical method and carry out the process by designing a brief study, collecting, organizing, presenting and analyzing data