What you’ll learn
Recognize statistical questions.
Key idea
A statistical question anticipates variation in the data collected; numerical answers alone do not establish that property.
A numerical answer is insufficient: the question must anticipate variability in its intended collection of observations, rather than ask for one fixed fact.
Worked example
Classify examples and non-examples for the concept 'Recognize statistical questions'.
A class contains 8 students. Classify the question 'What was Ana's one-way travel time to school for the one specified observation?' as statistical or nonstatistical, citing expected variability.
- The group question asks for one-way travel time to school across 8 different students.
- These minutes measurements can vary; a single specified observation for Ana instead has one fixed answer.
Answer: Non-example — one specified observation has one fixed answer, not merely because values are numeric.
Quick Check
Classify examples and non-examples for the concept 'Recognize statistical questions'.
A class contains 3 students. Classify the question 'What is each student's daily reading time in this class of 3?' as statistical or nonstatistical, citing expected variability.