Ask the right question
Oakfield Youth Club is made up. The manager wants to know what to offer next term. She asks: "Do you like the club?"
Everyone says "yes". That does not help. She needs better questions and the right kind of data. This lesson shows the kinds there are.
By the end of this lesson
Note
I can say whether data is qualitative (in words) or quantitative (a number), and whether a source is primary or secondary.
Key words
| Word | What it means |
|---|---|
| Qualitative data | data that describes with words or opinions |
| Quantitative data | data that is a number you can count or measure |
| Discrete data | a number you count, in whole steps |
| Continuous data | a number you measure, which can have decimals |
| Primary source | data you collect yourself for your own purpose |
| Secondary source | data somebody else collected first |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
Starter: what you already know
Have a go
Starter: what you already know
4 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.
Data is words or numbers
Qualitative data describes. It uses words or opinions, such as "the coaches are friendly". It is hard to add up.
Quantitative data is a number. You can count it or measure it, such as 6 visits or 2.5 km. You can add it up and find an average.
Examples from the youth club
| What was collected | Kind | Why |
|---|---|---|
| "Needs more paint" | Qualitative | It is an opinion in words |
| Favourite activity: Chess | Qualitative | It is a word, a choice |
| 6 visits a month | Quantitative | It is a number you count |
| 2.5 km to the club | Quantitative | It is a number you measure |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
Check
Have a go
Check
3 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.