. The Statistical Problem .
A research question needs to be carefully planned.
What am I interested in, and what is a good research question?
Given some data, what is a good research question?
Start with “I wonder if there are differences between…”
Example “I wonder if there are differences in cell phone use between boys and girls in year 11 from the 2009 Census at school Database”
Notice: 1) the underlying population is specified
(year 11 students from the 2009 Census at school Database)
2) there are two groups to compare
To answer this problem select appropriate variables from the provided data set.
If there are not suitable variables then change your statistical problem
A bad question: How many apple trees are there in Tasman region?
A bad question: How many bigger apples are over 150g weight?
. Write a research question .
Given this data what research questions are possible?
Pam’s Pork Pie Palace Peters Possum Pie Plazza
Pie / Pie Weight / Pie Volume / Pie DiameterA / 377g / 157 mL / 5.1cm
B / 392g / 165 mL / 5.3 cm
C / 338g / 134 mL / 4.8 cm
D / 333g / 132 mL / 5 cm
E / 418g / 172 mL / 5.9 cm
F / 402g / 167 mL / 5.3 cm
G / 319g / 118 mL / 5.2 cm
H / 324g / 128 mL / 4.9 cm
What variables would be suitable to help answer this question?
**Variable, Groups, Population, Comparison, Direction, Median**
“I wonder if there are differences in ……………..…………….. between ……….…… and ……………… from the 2009 Census at school Database”
Indicate whether the following are good statistical investigation questions for the data or not and indicate why.
1) Homework completed by 11QBS students weekly
Student / H/W hrs / Male/Female1 / 4 / M
2 / 3 / F
3 / 1 / F
4 / 0 / M
5 / 5 / M
6 / 6 / F
7 / 3 / M
8 / 2 / M
9 / 3 / F
10 / 2 / F
a) Do females do more homework weekly than males in 11QBS?
b) How many students do less than 2 hours homework?
2) The time it takes students in 11COR to travel to school and the time they get up in the morning
Student / Time to travel (mins)1 / 5
2 / 15
3 / 12
4 / 11
5 / 40
6 / 13
7 / 24
8 / 6
9 / 3
10 / 8
a) How many students take less than 15 minutes to travel to school?
b) What is the average time it takes a student in 11COR to travel to school?
Write down two questions about the given data that would be suitable for statistical investigation:
1) You are given the ages, genders and the earnings of 30 adults
2) You are given the ages, genders and savings of 25 students
3) You are given information on 30 students regarding their age, gender and whether or not they have a driver’s licence
4) You are given information on 30 students regarding their age, gender, hand span and thumb length.