📊 Part 1: Understanding Variables and Populations

1. Match each term with its correct definition by drawing lines:

Variable

Population

Sample

The entire group you want to investigate

A characteristic or attribute that can be measured

A subset of the population you actually collect data from

2. For each investigative question, identify whether the italicised part is a variable or population:

a) "How does hours of sleep affect Year 11 student performance?"

Answer:

b) "What are the favourite sports of students at our school?"

Answer:

c) "How much time do teenagers in Auckland spend on social media daily?"

Answer:

Variable Population Variable Population Variable Population

3. Which of these are good examples of variables? (Check all that apply)

Height in centimetres

All Year 11 students

Favourite subject

Number of siblings

Students who play sport

Weekly income in dollars

✏️ Part 2: Planning Your Investigation

4. Create an investigative question on a topic that interests you. Write it below:

5. For your chosen question, identify TWO variables you would need to measure:

Variable 1: ________________________________

Variable 2: ________________________________

6. Define the population for your investigation:

The population I am interested in is: ________________________________

7. Explain why it's important to clearly define your variables and population before collecting data:

8. Extension Activity: Consider the practical challenges of collecting data from your entire population. Suggest a realistic sample and explain how you would select it:

🎯 Part 3: Success Check

9. Self-Assessment: Can you do the following? (Tick the boxes you feel confident about)

I can identify at least two variables for an investigative question

I can clearly define a population for my investigation

I can explain why variables and populations are important in statistics

I can suggest appropriate sampling methods for my population

10. One thing I learned today about variables and populations:

11. One question I still have:

Variables and Populations

Variables and Populations

📊 Part 1: Understanding Variables and Populations

✏️ Part 2: Planning Your Investigation

🎯 Part 3: Success Check

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