Study Notes
Handling data involves planning, collecting, processing, presenting, and interpreting data, as well as understanding probability.
- Qualitative Data — data that can only be written in words, not numbers. Example: The colors of cars in a car park.
- Quantitative Data — data that can be written in numbers. Example: The heights of children.
- Discrete Data — numerical data that cannot be shown in decimals. Example: The number of children in a classroom.
- Continuous Data — numerical data that can be shown in decimals. Example: The weights of 10 babies.
- Primary Data — data collected from the original source for a specific purpose. Example: Surveying students about the school canteen service.
- Secondary Data — data not originally collected by a group for a specific purpose. Example: Using national statistics to find the average cost of cars.
- Probability — how likely something is to happen. Example: The probability of a coin landing heads is 1/2.
Exam Tips
Key Definitions to Remember
- Qualitative Data: Data in words.
- Quantitative Data: Data in numbers.
- Discrete Data: Whole numbers only.
- Continuous Data: Includes decimals.
- Primary Data: Original data collection.
- Secondary Data: Data from other sources.
- Probability: Likelihood of an event.
Common Confusions
- Mixing up qualitative and quantitative data.
- Confusing discrete data with continuous data.
- Misunderstanding the difference between primary and secondary data.
Typical Exam Questions
- What is the difference between discrete and continuous data? Discrete data cannot have decimals, while continuous data can.
- How do you calculate the mean from a frequency table? Add all data points and divide by the number of items.
- What is the probability of rolling a 4 on a die? 1/6
What Examiners Usually Test
- Understanding of different data types.
- Ability to calculate mean, median, and mode.
- Knowledge of probability concepts and calculations.