The power of statistics lies in managing variability, making predictions about the unknown, and using data to tell a story about the world. Students come to school with everyday experiences about each of these ideas, allowing them to be introduced in Foundation and to build in complexity through to Year 10.
Each year students experience a range of data types and structures, increasing complexity of problems to investigate, more robust methods for collecting and analysing data, and greater independence in planning, conducting and making conclusions or predictions in statistical investigations. In building these ideas throughout their schooling, students develop a broad range of experiences to manage uncertainty. These are critically important to enable students to see what is “behind the data” to be able to critically interpret what is presented in the media.
Powerful statistical ideas
Data tells a story
Data tells a story that begins with a contextual question and ends with an explanation or conclusion. The middle of the story is the adventure, where we collect, analyse, and interpret data, encounter challenges, and make decisions.
Data provides evidence for predictions
Statistical investigations support us to make predictions about the unknown. Predictions are claims about the unknown that contain some uncertainty, drawing on data as evidence.
Variation describes the spread of data
Variation is the degree of consistency in data. Understanding which differences are caused by external factors and which result from randomness allows us to identify patterns and draw meaningful conclusions.
We can see patterns in the distribution of data
‘Distribution’ refers to the patterns of similarity and difference in a dataset. Understanding the features of a distribution, how distributions are represented, and how they can be compared allows us to describe a dataset, make predictions, and effectively evaluate patterns.
Statistics is about understanding and interpreting data
Data can be generated in various ways, and the type of data influences how it is collected, recorded, and represented.