← Years 5–6 Data & Information

Drawing conclusions from data

A statement that answers a question using evidence from the data, such as numbers. It should only say what the data shows and stay within the data's limits.

Part of: 5-6 Digital Technologies Vic Curric - Data, Information and Privacy — Module 36, VCE Applied Computing - U1O1 - Data analysis — Module 69, VCE Data Analytics - U3O1 - Data Analytics — Module 97, VCE Data Analytics - U4O1 - Development and Evaluation — Module 40, 7-8 Digital Technologies: Analysing and visualising data — Module 27, 9-10 Digital Technologies: Analysing and visualising data — Module 15, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Analysing and Visualising Data — Module 51, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Acquiring and Validating Data — Module 117, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Analysing and Visualising Data — Module 73

Understanding Drawing conclusions from data in Years 5–6 Data & Information

What it does: The numbers 15 and 5 are the evidence that supports the conclusion that dogs are more popular. The conclusion directly answers the question by naming the sport and giving the evidence. Data has limits. We only asked 20 Year 5 students, so we can't say what everyone in Australia thinks. A conclusion must be backed by evidence from the data. Guesses with no evidence do not belong in it. The data only shows how many walk and how many ride. It says nothing about health, so that conclusion goes beyond the data. The statement answers the question about favourite lunch and backs it up with numbers from the survey.

Common mistakes: The question must be one the data can answer. The data counts votes, so it cannot show which pet is cutest. It should ask which pet got the most votes. The conclusion goes against the data. Wednesday was 19 degrees, which is the coolest day. The warmest day was Tuesday at 24 degrees.

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 31–56) and word search (Modules 21–56).

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Learning
Duo
Which is a conclusion that uses numbers as evidence?
Most of our class likes pizza best: 18 out of 25 students chose it.Pizza is just the best food ever.
Matches
Only 10 kids were surveyed, so everyone in Australia loves soccer.
↓
The conclusion goes beyond the data's limits. Ten kids cannot show what everyone in Australia thinks.
Applying
Meanings
Term
conclusion
Meaning
A statement that answers a question using evidence from the data, such as numbers. It should only say what the data shows and stay within the data's limits.
Practice
Question: Which pet is most popular in our class?
Testing
Gaps
A answers a question using data.
Check Answer
Spots
1Q: Which pet is the cutest?
2Data: Cat 12, Dog 9, Fish 4

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Quick Questions

1. Which is a conclusion that uses numbers as evidence?
A. Most of our class likes pizza best: 18 out of 25 students chose it. ✓
B. Pizza is just the best food ever.
A good conclusion uses numbers from the data, like 18 out of 25, as evidence.
2. A class survey asks: Which pet do students like most? The results are dogs 12, cats 8, fish 5. Which conclusion answers the question?
A. Dogs are the most liked pet, with 12 votes. ✓
B. Fish are boring because only 5 students picked them.
A conclusion should answer the question that was asked. The answer is dogs, and 12 votes is the evidence.
3. Our survey only asked 20 students in Year 5. Which conclusion stays within the data's limits?
A. Most Year 5 students we asked prefer swimming. ✓
B. Everyone in Australia prefers swimming.
Data has limits. We only asked 20 Year 5 students, so we can't say what everyone in Australia thinks.
4. True or false: A conclusion can include things the data does not show.
A. True. A conclusion can include guesses with no evidence.
B. False. A conclusion only says what the data shows. ✓
A conclusion must be backed by evidence from the data. Guesses with no evidence do not belong in it.
5. A graph shows 15 students walk to school and 10 students ride a bike. Which conclusion is correct?
A. Students who walk are healthier than students who ride.
B. More students walk to school than ride a bike. ✓
The data only shows how many walk and how many ride. It says nothing about health, so that conclusion goes beyond the data.

Match the Pairs

Most students chose pizza (12 of 20), so pizza is the favourite lunch in this class. → A conclusion that answers the question using numbers as evidence from the data
This survey only asked Year 5 students, so we cannot say what the whole school thinks. → A statement about data limits: the conclusion should only cover who was asked
A good conclusion uses numbers from the data as evidence → Dogs got 15 votes and cats got 5 votes, so dogs are more popular.
A conclusion answers the question that was asked → Question: Which sport is most popular? Conclusion: Soccer is most popular with 9 votes.
Only 10 kids were surveyed, so everyone in Australia loves soccer. → The conclusion goes beyond the data's limits. Ten kids cannot show what everyone in Australia thinks.
Pizza is the best lunch because it is yummy. → There are no numbers or evidence from the data. It is only an opinion.

Key Term

conclusion
A statement that answers a question using evidence from the data, such as numbers. It should only say what the data shows and stay within the data's limits.

Fill in the Blanks

1. A conclusion answers a question using data.
Hint: Type the word for a statement that answers a question using evidence.
2. A conclusion uses numbers as evidence.
Hint: Type the word for facts from the data that back up a conclusion.
3. Data: cats 12 votes, dogs 8 votes. Conclusion: Cats got more votes than dogs.
Hint: Type the comparing word that matches what the numbers show.
4. A conclusion must stay within the data's limits.
Hint: Type the word for how far the data can go and no further.
5. Class A read 30 books. Class B read 22. Class A read 8 more books than Class B.
Hint: Type the number that is the difference between the two totals.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A Q: Which pet is the cutest?
B Data: Cat 12, Dog 9, Fish 4
C Conclusion: Cats got the most.
Line A — The question must be one the data can answer. The data counts votes, so it cannot show which pet is cutest. It should ask which pet got the most votes.
Question 2
A Q: Which day was warmest?
B Data: Mon 21, Tue 24, Wed 19
C Conclusion: Wed was warmest.
Line C — The conclusion goes against the data. Wednesday was 19 degrees, which is the coolest day. The warmest day was Tuesday at 24 degrees.
Question 3
A Data: 15 yes, 5 no (20 pupils)
B Conclusion: All kids like it.
C Limit: Only Year 6 was asked.
Line B — The data shows 15 of 20 pupils said yes, not all kids. A conclusion should only say what the data shows, such as 15 of 20 like it.
Question 4
A Q: Which lunch sells the most?
B Data: Pie 30, Roll 45, Salad 8
C Conclusion: Rolls sold most.
D Limit: Rolls will always win.
Line D — A limit says what the data cannot tell us. One week of data cannot prove rolls will always win. It should say the data is only from one week.
Question 5
A Total: 8 + 5 + 11 = 22 books
B Conclusion: We read 24 books.
C Limit: Only 3 pupils counted.
Line A — The number used as evidence is wrong. 8 + 5 + 11 equals 24, not 22. The conclusion then says 24, so the evidence must match.

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