Statistical Education Resource Kit

Types of Data

Synopsis: An activity which involves analyzing the first and last names of groups of students to illustrate that the choice of statistical analysis depends on the type of data.  Students break up into groups of 4 to 5 students, and collect data on their names in order to learn different data types.

Type of activity: In-class, small-group

Statistical topics: types of data, choice of statistics

Time needed: 10-15 minutes

Materials needed:

Procedure:
Part I
  1. Ask students to form groups of 4 to 5 students.
  2. Give one activity form to each student.
  3. Have the students complete the questions to collect data and then have them compile the group's data into the table provided.
  4. Ask the students to answer the analysis questions concerning the data collection.
Part II

After the students have completed the activity form, the class can come back together to discuss the purpose of the activity.  It works well to start the discussion by asking the students what they learned in doing the activity.  An astute student will eventually identify that the choice of statistics or graph depends on the type of data collected.

Comments from others who have tried activity:  None.

Supplementary materials:  Activity Form: HTML Version
 

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This activity was submitted by Laura J. Simon: lsimon@stat.psu.edu