← VCE Data Analytics U3O2

Data requirements for a research question

A list of the data items, types, sources and amount needed to answer a research question, such as the variables, primary or secondary source, time period and sample size.

Part of: VCE Data Analytics - U3O2 - Analysis and Design — Module 22, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Acquiring and Storing Data — Module 5, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Acquiring and Validating Data — Module 6, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 1 — Understanding Digital Problems — Module 44, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 2 — Data-Driven Problems and Solution Requirements — Module 6, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 4 — Complex Digital Data Exchange Problems and Solution Requirements — Module 15

Understanding Data requirements for a research question in VCE Data Analytics U3O2

What it does: Time period is a sub-theme of data requirements. It states which dates the data must cover. Sample size says how much data to collect so the answer to the research question is reliable. Data requirements are identified before collection. They describe what data is needed, not the findings. A count of lunches is a whole number, so it is numeric (integer). Listing the type of each variable is part of the data requirements. Data collected first-hand by the team through a survey is primary data. Secondary data was already collected by someone else.

Common mistakes: Sample size is the number of people or records in the data, not a unit of measurement. It should read 'Sample size: 120 students'. Daily rainfall depends on when it was recorded, so the data requirements must state a time period, such as 1 Jan-31 Dec 2024.

Class: _____________________ · Name: _____________________ · Date: _________

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Learning

Duo

A student asks: 'Do Year 12 students who sleep more get higher SAC scores?' Which is a data requirement?

A bar chart with a blue colour schemeHours of sleep and SAC score for each student

Matches

Research question: Does sleep affect marks? Data requirements: Collect some data about students.

↓

The requirements are vague. They do not name the variables (such as hours of sleep and test score), the type of each, the source, the time period or the sample size.

Applying

Meanings

Term

data requirements

Meaning

A list of the data items, types, sources and amount needed to answer a research question, such as the variables, primary or secondary source, time period and sample size.

Practice

Question: Does sleep affect Maths marks?

Testing

Gaps

: hoursslept, testscore

Check Answer

Spots

3Source: primary (own survey)

4Sample size: 120 hours

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Quick Questions

1. A student asks: 'Do Year 12 students who sleep more get higher SAC scores?' Which is a data requirement?

A. A bar chart with a blue colour scheme

B. Hours of sleep and SAC score for each student ✓

Data requirements list the variables (data items) needed. Sleep hours and SAC scores are needed to answer the question. A chart colour is a design choice.

2. Which statement best describes data requirements?

A. The data items, types, sources and amount needed to answer the research question ✓

B. The final conclusions drawn from the data after analysis

Data requirements are identified before collection. They describe what data is needed, not the findings.

3. A research question asks how many students buy lunch at the canteen each day. Which data type suits the 'number of lunches bought' variable?

A. Numeric (integer) ✓

B. Text (string)

A count of lunches is a whole number, so it is numeric (integer). Listing the type of each variable is part of the data requirements.

4. A team plans to survey 40 classmates about their screen time. This is which kind of source?

A. Secondary source

B. Primary source ✓

Data collected first-hand by the team through a survey is primary data. Secondary data was already collected by someone else.

5. A team plans to download rainfall data from the Bureau of Meteorology website. This is which kind of source?

A. Secondary source ✓

B. Primary source

The Bureau collected the data, not the team, so it is a secondary source. Data requirements must state whether the source is primary or secondary.

Match the Pairs

Variables: yearLevel, hoursSleep, testScore → Lists the data items (variables) that must be collected to answer the research question

Source: primary (class survey) → States that the data will be collected first-hand rather than taken from an existing dataset

A data requirement can set the time period the data must cover, so the data is relevant to the question → Time period: Jan 2023 to Dec 2023

A data requirement can state the amount of data needed, such as the sample size → Sample size: 120 students

Research question: Does sleep affect marks? Data requirements: Collect some data about students. → The requirements are vague. They do not name the variables (such as hours of sleep and test score), the type of each, the source, the time period or the sample size.

Data requirements: Variables: rainfall. Source: primary. Sample: 10 years of Bureau of Meteorology records → The source is labelled primary but the data comes from existing Bureau of Meteorology records, which is a secondary source.

Key Term

data requirements

A list of the data items, types, sources and amount needed to answer a research question, such as the variables, primary or secondary source, time period and sample size.

Fill in the Blanks

1. Variables: hours_slept, test_score

Hint: Type the heading for the list of data items that must be collected.

2. Source: primary (we run our own survey)

Hint: Type the source type used when you collect the data first-hand yourself.

3. Source: secondary (ABS census tables)

Hint: Type the source type used when the data was already collected by someone else.

4. Time period: Term 1, 2024

Hint: Type the heading that states when the data needs to be from.

5. Sample size: 120 students

Hint: Type the heading that states how many participants or records are needed.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A RQ: Hours of sleep by Year 12s

B Variable: hours slept (number)

C Source: primary (own survey)

D Sample size: 120 hours

Line D — Sample size is the number of people or records in the data, not a unit of measurement. It should read 'Sample size: 120 students'.

Question 2

A RQ: Daily rainfall in Cairns

B Source: secondary (BoM data)

C Time period: not required

D Variable: rainfall (mm)

Line C — Daily rainfall depends on when it was recorded, so the data requirements must state a time period, such as 1 Jan-31 Dec 2024.

Question 3

A RQ: Which bus route is latest?

B Variable: route, bus colour

C Source: secondary (PTV data)

D Time period: Term 1, 2025

Line B — Bus colour does not help answer which route is latest. The variables needed are route and minutes late.

Question 4

A RQ: Year 11 views on canteen

B Source: secondary (my survey)

C Sample size: 80 students

Line B — Data collected first-hand by the student's own survey is primary data, not secondary. It should read 'Source: primary (my survey)'.

Question 5

A Variables: sleep hours, shoes

B Source: primary (survey)

C Sample size: 60 students

D RQ: Does sleep affect marks?

Line A — The research question is about sleep and marks, so the variables needed are sleep hours and marks. Shoes is not needed.

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