Surveying students

Surveying students

Auto-markingPencil and paperOnline interactive
Overview
Using this Resource
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
Working with Students
Further Resources
This task is about the best sample and sample size for a survey.

Question

a) The following headline appeared in the local newspaper: "Students do not like wearing school uniforms."
     Pete designed a questionnaire to find out if students at his school liked wearing uniforms.
     Which of these would be the best sample of 50 students to answer his questionnaire?

    • Two year 9 classes chosen at random, with a total of 50 students altogether.

    • A group of 50 of his friends who are chosen at random.

    • A group of 10 students chosen at random from each of the 5 year levels at the school.

    • A group of 50 year 9 students who are chosen at random.

Question

musicians
b)  Penelope decided to survey students at her school for their favourite pop group.
     How many students should she survey for the most accurate results? 

    • 30

    • 60

    • 100

    • 200

Task administration: 
This task is completed by pencil and paper or online with auto-marking.
Level:
5
Curriculum info: 
Maths, Statistics, Statistical investigations
Keywords: 
sampling, surveys, bias
Description of task: 
Students decide on the best sample of students for a given survey and answer a multiple choice question. They also answer a question on sample size for best accuracy.
Learning Progression Frameworks
This resource can provide evidence of learning associated with
Statistical investigations, set 6
within the Mathematics Learning Progressions Frameworks.
Read more about the Learning Progressions Frameworks.
Answers/responses: 
 
Y10 (08/1999)
a) C (A group of 10 students chosen at random from each of the 5 year levels at the school.) very easy
b) D (200) moderate
Diagnostic and formative information: 
  Common error Likely reason
b) C (100) Highest number avoided (200) – may see this as a census rather than a sample.