← QCE Digital Solutions Unit 2

What a data-driven problem is

A problem whose solution depends on collecting, storing, processing and presenting data, such as keeping records or reporting results. Problems needing no data are not data-driven.

Part of: QCE Digital Solutions Unit 2 — Data-Driven Problems and Solution Requirements — Module 2

Understanding What a data-driven problem is in QCE Digital Solutions Unit 2

What it does: The library system cannot work without collecting and storing book and loan records, which makes it a data-driven problem. Arranging desks is solved by layout and reasoning, with no data collected, stored, processed or presented, so it is not data-driven. Analysing data and reporting results is a key feature of data-driven problems. Data-driven solutions collect, store, process and present data, so they never ignore it. A computer can be used for problems that need no data, such as drawing a poster, so the test is whether the solution depends on data.

Common mistakes: A problem that needs stored records must save the data it collects. The line should be: store product, qty in stock. Analysing data to report an average means dividing the total by the count, not multiplying. It should be: average <- total / count.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 2–115) and word search (Modules 2–139).

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Learning

Duo

A school canteen wants to keep a record of every student's lunch order each day. Is this a data-driven problem?

Yes - the solution must collect and store order recordsNo - lunch orders are not data

Matches

A problem is data-driven if it uses a computer

↓

Using a computer does not make a problem data-driven. It is data-driven only when the solution depends on collecting, storing, processing and presenting data.

Applying

Meanings

Term

data-driven problem

Meaning

A problem whose solution depends on collecting, storing, processing and presenting data, such as keeping records or reporting results. Problems needing no data are not data-driven.

Practice

Problem: Track canteen orders

Testing

Gaps

dataDriven ←

Check Answer

Spots

2input qty

3delete product, qty from stock

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Quick Questions

1. A school canteen wants to keep a record of every student's lunch order each day. Is this a data-driven problem?

A. Yes - the solution must collect and store order records ✓

B. No - lunch orders are not data

Storing records of orders means the solution depends on collecting and storing data, so it is data-driven.

2. Which statement best describes a data-driven problem?

A. Its solution depends only on choosing a colourful interface

B. Its solution depends on collecting, storing, processing and presenting data ✓

A data-driven problem is defined by its reliance on data being collected, stored, processed and presented.

3. A netball club needs to work out each player's average goals per game and show it in a report. Is this data-driven?

A. No - reports never involve data

B. Yes - data must be processed and presented as a report ✓

Analysing data and reporting results is a key feature of data-driven problems.

4. A student wants an app that only displays a countdown timer with fixed text and no saved information. Is this a data-driven problem?

A. No - it needs no collected, stored or analysed data ✓

B. Yes - every app is a data-driven problem

If a problem needs no data to be collected, stored, processed or presented, it is not data-driven.

5. Which problem is data-driven?

A. Tracking library book loans and overdue returns ✓

B. Drawing a fixed poster with no changing information

Tracking loans requires stored records and processing of dates, so it is data-driven.

Match the Pairs

Problem: store student marks and list the top scorers → A data-driven problem: it needs stored records that are processed and presented

Problem: report weekly canteen sales totals to the manager → A data-driven problem: it needs data analysed and reported

A problem that needs stored records is data-driven because the solution must collect and keep data → Problem: keep a library record of each book and who borrowed it

A problem that needs no data is not data-driven → Problem: work out how to arrange desks so everyone can see the board

A problem is data-driven if it uses a computer → Using a computer does not make a problem data-driven. It is data-driven only when the solution depends on collecting, storing, processing and presenting data.

A problem that only needs data analysed and reported is not data-driven → Analysing and reporting data is part of being data-driven. A problem does not need stored records to qualify.

Key Term

data-driven problem

A problem whose solution depends on collecting, storing, processing and presenting data, such as keeping records or reporting results. Problems needing no data are not data-driven.

Fill in the Blanks

1. problem ← "keep records of club members" dataDriven ← true

Hint: Type the Boolean value for a problem that needs stored records.

2. problem ← "pick a colour for my wall" dataDriven ← false

Hint: Type the Boolean value for a problem that needs no data.

3. input mark add mark to marks print average(marks)

Hint: Type the keyword that collects data from the user.

4. average ← sum(marks) / length(marks) print average

Hint: Type the keyword that presents the processed result to the user.

5. members ← array of 10 names input name members[1] ← name

Hint: Type the variable that holds the data just entered, so it can be stored as a record.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A input product

B input qty

C delete product, qty from stock

D print "Record saved"

Line C — A problem that needs stored records must save the data it collects. The line should be: store product, qty in stock.

Question 2

A input total

B input count

C average <- total * count

D print average

Line C — Analysing data to report an average means dividing the total by the count, not multiplying. It should be: average <- total / count.

Question 3

A total <- 0

B for i from 1 to 5

C input mark

D total <- mark

E print total

Line D — Processing the data means adding each mark to the running total. Replacing total with mark loses the earlier marks. It should be: total <- total + mark.

Question 4

A needsData <- false

B problem <- "Keep student records"

C if needsData = true then

D print "Data-driven"

E end if

Line A — Keeping student records depends on collecting and storing data, so the problem is data-driven. needsData should be true.

Question 5

A problem <- "Print a hello card"

B needsData <- true

C if needsData = false then

D print "Not data-driven"

E end if

Line B — Printing a fixed hello card does not need any data collected, stored or processed, so needsData should be false.

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