Definition
A Statistical Question is one in which has a variety of answers.
There are FOUR requirements/criteria that need to be met in order for a question to be classified as statistical:
1. Specific Topic/Focus
2. Population
3. Specific Number of Options
4. Specific Options
First Requirement:
Specific Topic/Focus
The Statistical Questions must contain a specific topic.
For instance the question must contain a focus.
Examples include:
*Number of siblings each student in a class has,
*Number of pets people who live in your neighborhood have, etc.
What is a Statistical Question?
Second Requirement:
Population
Statistical Questions must also have a specific population. Population can be defined as:
A specific group of people to whom the statistical question is asked
Examples of Population include:
Your Math class (or any other class)
The other children in your neighborhood or on your sports team
The teachers within your school, etc.
Third Requirement:
Specific Number of Options
Statistical Questions must have a specific number of options to choose from. These option amounts should be no less than five (5) but no more than ten (10).
Example: How many pets do the children in your science class have?
Specific Options: there are 6 number choices to choose from when answering this question.
The number choices to choose from are the options.
Review from
Class Discussion:
A FACT is defined as:
something that is known to be true; the truth
A STATISTIC is defined as:
something that is created from data
** side note ** Data is defined as individual items of information that can be used in multiple ways.
Statistical Questions have four requirements:
Topic
Population
Number of Options
Specific Options
Are you ready to practice?
Fourth Requirement:
Specific Options
We now have learned the difference between a fact and a statistic so lets put our knowledge to the test with some practice.
Statistical Questions need to have results that are numerical. The reason for this is so when they are graphed it can be easily interpreted and identified.
Example: (Same one from third requirement) How many pets do the children in your science class have?
Specific Number of Options: 6
Specific Options to choose from: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6+