8.01 Statistical questions

Governments, businesses and researchers use statistics to draw conclusions and make decisions about specific issues. If we are using statistics to make important decisions, we need to make sure we ask the right questions when we are collecting data. We need specific research questions that will give us specific answers to the questions we are investigating.

We also need to understand what graphs and statistical information are trying to tell us so we can draw conclusions based on information that is presented to us.

A statistical question must have all the following features:

• have a variety of possible answers: there has to be more than one answer to a question

• state a population: it must apply to more than one person

• need some statistical methods to answer the question

Examples

An attribute is defined as a specific characteristic or feature of a given subject. When we talk about statistical attributes, we mean the attributes for the specific topic or subject that we want to investigate. If we can clearly identify the statistical attributes in a research project, it helps us generate clear statistical questions so we can make useful conclusions.

Examples

Example 2

What statistical attributes would need to be considered if you were trying to investigate how many pets your classmates own?

A

The number of pets they own.

B

How much their pets weigh.

C

The types of pets they own.

Worked Solution

Create a strategy

Choose the attributes that are relevant to the question that are we trying to investigate.

Apply the idea

We do not need to know how big each pet is that is owned or what type of pets they own.

The statistical attribute is the number of pets they own.

Watch question walkthrough

Example 3

What statistical attributes could be being shown in the graph to the right?

A

Number of children who travel to school and their mode of transport

B

How many people prefer each mode of transport

C

Number of teachers who travel to school and their mode of transport

Worked Solution

Apply the idea

Each graphic represents a certain number of children and their mode of transportation when traveling to school.

The statistical attribute is the number of children who travel to school and their mode of transport.

Watch question walkthrough

Example 4

What statistical attribute is being compared in the graph?

A

Preferred sport

B

The number of hours of sport played

C

Number of boys

Worked Solution

Apply the idea

The graph measures the number of boys who play each sport.

The statistical attribute is option A: Preferred sport.

Watch question walkthrough