Topic 1 Planning An Investigation

Question 1

What is an hypothesis?

Answer 1

A statement that might be true or false but you haven’t got enough evidence to support it yet.

Question 2

What must a hypothesis be?

Answer 2

Testable e.g ‘ the higher the temperature, the more people go to the beach’

Question 3

What are the five stages of the statistical enquiry cycle?

Answer 3

Planning
Collecting data
Processing and presenting data
Interpreting results
Communicating results clearly and evaluating methods

Question 4

What is involved in planning?

Answer 4

Choose hypothesis
What data to collect
How to record and use the data

Question 5

What is involved in collecting data?

Answer 5

Choose data source and collecting method
Identify any constraints (limitations due to availability/reliability of dat or practicalities of methods)

Question 6

What is involved in processing and presenting data?

Answer 6

Choose diagrams and measures
Consider use of technology

Question 7

What is involved in interpreting results?

Answer 7

Plan analysis in order to draw conclusions and make predictions

Question 8

What is involved in communicating and evaluating methods?

Answer 8

Talk about the target audience and what it shows

Question 9

What are constraints?

Answer 9

Things that limit your choice of data sources and collection methods

Question 10

What are some problems with TIME when planning an investigation?

Answer 10

Might be under pressure to do an investigation in a certain time limit

Question 11

What are some problems with COSTS when planning an investigation?

Answer 11

Could be a budget or might want to minimise spending
Generally the longer the investigation the more expensive
Need to think about travel and equipment

Question 12

What are some problems with ETHICAL ISSUES when planning an investigation?

Answer 12

Make sure it doesn’t cause any harm or distress to anyone involved

Question 13

What are some problems with CONFIDENTIALITY when planning an investigation?

Answer 13

Some information might babe considered sensitive ( incomes/health)
People might prefer to be anonymous

Question 14

What are some problems with CONVENIENCE when planning an investigation?

Answer 14

Might be difficult or impossible to test
Need a convenient way to access the data you need

Question 15

What could you do to reduce problems during an investigation?

Answer 15

Pilot study
Fit the data collection method to suit the situation
Use a simulation if experiment is impractical
Random response technique for sensitive questions
Reduce non response answers for questionaires