← Years 5–6 Data & Information

Collecting data with a survey

A survey collects data by asking everyone the same clear questions, such as closed or open questions on an online form, so the answers can be counted and compared.

Part of: 5-6 Digital Technologies Vic Curric - Data, Information and Privacy — Module 13, VCE Applied Computing - U1O1 - Data analysis — Module 7, VCE Software Development - U3O2 - Analysis and Design — Module 25, VCE Data Analytics - U3O2 - Analysis and Design — Module 26, 7-8 Digital Technologies: Acquiring, storing and validating data — Module 2, 9-10 Digital Technologies: Acquiring, storing and validating data — Module 2, 9-10 Digital Technologies: Defining and decomposing problems — Module 10, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Acquiring and Storing Data — Module 7, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Acquiring and Validating Data — Module 18, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 2 — Data and Programming Techniques — Module 17

Understanding Collecting data with a survey in Years 5–6 Data & Information

What it does: An open question has no set choices. Students write their own answer, which gives more detail but is harder to count. A clear question asks one thing and uses words that mean the same to everyone. The first question asks for a number of hours. Asking everyone the same questions means the answers can be counted and compared fairly. Online forms collect each person's answers automatically. People can still choose different answers. A bigger sample from different groups shows what more people think. Only asking 3 friends might not match everyone. Closed questions give fixed choices like Yes or No, so a survey can count and compare the answers quickly.

Common mistakes: A survey question must be clear so everyone understands it the same way. "Pets?" is too vague. It should be a full question like "What pet do you own?". This question gives a list of options to choose from, so it is a closed question. The type should be "closed", not "open".

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 11–20) and word search (Modules 1–20).

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Each concept is reinforced from every angle — learned, then applied, then tested.

Learning

Duo

Which survey question is clearer?

Do you play games a lot or sometimes or never much?How many hours do you play games each week?

Matches

Don't you agree that our boring canteen food is awful?

↓

The question is unclear and leading. It pushes people to give one answer, so the data is not fair.

Applying

Meanings

Term

survey

Meaning

A survey collects data by asking everyone the same clear questions, such as closed or open questions on an online form, so the answers can be counted and compared.

Practice

Survey: Favourite school lunch

Testing

Gaps

A asks everyone the same questions

Check Answer

Spots

1type = "closed"

2q1 = "Pets?"

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Quick Questions

1. Which survey question is clearer?

A. How many hours do you play games each week? ✓

B. Do you play games a lot or sometimes or never much?

A clear question asks one thing and uses words that mean the same to everyone. The first question asks for a number of hours.

2. A survey asks everyone the same questions. True or false?

A. True ✓

B. False

Asking everyone the same questions means the answers can be counted and compared fairly.

3. Which one is a closed question?

A. Tell us about your favourite pet.

B. Which pet do you have: dog, cat, fish or none? ✓

A closed question gives a set of choices to pick from. An open question lets people write their own answer.

4. Which one is an open question?

A. Do you like the canteen: yes or no?

B. What would you change about our school canteen? ✓

An open question lets people answer in their own words. Yes or no is a closed question.

5. Which type of question is easier to count and put in a chart?

A. Closed question ✓

B. Open question

Closed questions give the same set of answers, so they are quick to count. Open answers need to be read and sorted first.

Match the Pairs

survey → A way to collect data by asking everyone the same clear questions

Closed question: Do you like pizza? Yes / No → A question with set answers to choose from, which are easy to count

An open question lets people answer in their own words → What is your favourite subject at school and why?

An online form can ask everyone the same question and collect the answers in one place → Q1. How do you get to school? ( ) Walk ( ) Bus ( ) Car

Don't you agree that our boring canteen food is awful? → The question is unclear and leading. It pushes people to give one answer, so the data is not fair.

Sample size: ask 2 students to find out what all 200 students think → The sample size is too small. Two answers cannot show what the whole group thinks.

Key Term

survey

A survey collects data by asking everyone the same clear questions, such as closed or open questions on an online form, so the answers can be counted and compared.

Fill in the Blanks

1. A survey asks everyone the same questions

Hint: Type the word for a set of questions used to collect data from many people.

2. Q1 (closed): Do you like pizza? Yes / No

Hint: Type the question type that gives fixed choices to pick from.

3. Q2 (open): How do you feel about school?

Hint: Type the question type where people answer in their own words.

4. Send the survey as an online form

Hint: Type the word for a web page with boxes and choices that people fill in and submit.

5. A bigger sample size gives better data

Hint: Type the word for the group of people who answer the survey.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A type = "closed"

B q1 = "Pets?"

C options = ["Dog","Cat","Fish"]

Line B — A survey question must be clear so everyone understands it the same way. "Pets?" is too vague. It should be a full question like "What pet do you own?".

Question 2

A type = "open"

B q = "Do you walk to school?"

C options = ["Yes", "No"]

Line A — This question gives a list of options to choose from, so it is a closed question. The type should be "closed", not "open".

Question 3

A type = "open"

B q = "Do you like reading?"

C answer = "free text"

Line B — An open question lets people write their own answer in words. "Do you like reading?" only needs yes or no, so it is closed. It should be "Why do you like reading?".

Question 4

A responses = 0

B sample_size = 30

C while responses < sample_size:

D responses = responses - 1

Line D — Each new response should add 1 to the count so we reach the sample size. Subtracting 1 makes the count go down, so the loop never finishes. It should be responses + 1.

Question 5

A form = "Class Survey"

B add_q("Favourite sport?")

C same_form_for_all = False

D send(form)

Line C — A survey must ask everyone the same questions so the answers can be compared. This should be True, not False.

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