Analysing Data for Interpretation progression

The ability to analyse data is an important part of using and understanding statistics in everyday life.

Find more information about the development of the ability to reason statistically.

Most adults will be able to:			Activities
1.	describe parts of the data and the set of data as a whole to determine what the data show.	Learners can: use visual representations of data to make comparisons between different groups of objects (for example, relative size).
3.	describe the general features of a data set.	Learners can: use representations of category data to make statements about the relative importance of the different categories identify and describe clusters of data and any unusual features.	Sort, represent and interpret category data Learners sort and organise category data and represent it on graphs.
4.	describe the shape and important features of a sample data set (considering especially median and range) compare two or more samples.	Learners can: compare median and range for several sets of sample data and, in this way, roughly estimate an overall median.	Sort, represent and interpret number data Learners sort and organise number data and represent it on graphs.
6.	find, use and interpret measures of centre and spread, including mean and interquartile range.	Learners can: explain how the mean and median relate to the shape of a data set choose an appropriate measure of centre (median or mean) recognise weaknesses of the range and explain why interquartile range may be a better measure of spread examine a box plot and discuss the important features of the data set it represents.	Sample sizes Learners develop an understanding of how sample size influences the accuracy of a survey. Understanding the mean 1 Learners develop an understanding of the concept of a mean as a number that represents what all the data items would be if they were levelled out to be the same. Understanding the mean 2 Learners develop an understanding of the concept of the mean as the ‘balance point’ of a set of data.