1. Unit 12: Statistics

2. Unit 12: Statistical Questions

3. Vocabulary
Statistics – The collection, organization, presentation, and analysis of data. Using data to answer questions. Statistical Question – A question that anticipates variability in the data that would be collected in order to answer the question. A questions with many possible answers. Variability – Variability in a data set occurs when the observations in the data set are not all the same. Categorical Data – Data that can be classified by type, such as colors or breeds of dogs. Numerical Data – Data that is measurable and collected in number form. Data that can be manipulated mathematically.

4. Statistical or Not? How tall is your 6th grade math teacher?
NOT – there is only one answer to this
Number of minutes students in your class spend getting ready for school.
STATISTICAL – there will be a range of answers
What is your hand span?
Number of pockets on the clothes of the students in your class
STATISTICAL – there will be a range of answer

5. Statistical or Not? Independent Practice
Who is my favorite move star?
No, not answers by collected data that vary
What are the favorite colors of 6th graders in my class?
Yes, colors will vary
How many years have students in my school’s band played an instrument?
Yes, number of years will vary
How many siblings does my best friend have?
No, not answered by collected data that vary

6. Not Statistical, but Why?
Explain why each of the following is not statistical.
How old am I?
Not answered by data that varies
2. What is my favorite color?
Not answered by data that varies – I have just one favorite color
How old is Dr. Lutinski?
Dr. Lutinski has just one age when you ask him.

7. Types of Data (Do Not Copy...Unless You Want To)
We use two types of data to answer statistical questions: numerical and categorical. If we recorded the age of 25 baseball cards, we would have numerical data. Each value in a numerical data set is a number. If we recorded the team of the featured player for 25 baseball cards, you would have categorical data. Although you still have 25 data values, the data values are not numbers. They would be team names, which you can think of as categories.

8. Types of Data Numerical Data Categorical Data Height Number of pets
Minutes to get to school
Age
Inches of rain that fell during storms
Eye color
Month in which you were born
Classroom number
Favorite TV show

9. Categorical or Numerical? Independent Practice
Heights of twenty 6th graders.
Numerical
Hours of sleep on a school night for thirty 6th graders.
Favorite flavor of ice cream for each of ten 6th graders.
Categorical
Number of pencils in each pencil case of fifteen 6th graders.
Type of beverage drank at lunch for each of fifteen 6th graders.