The document outlines the steps of the PPDAC statistical inquiry cycle which includes problem, plan, data, analysis, and conclusion. It provides descriptions of the key elements and activities that occur at each step such as formulating a question, developing a plan to collect and measure data, analyzing and interpreting results, and drawing conclusions. Examples are also provided of elements that would be classified under each step of the cycle to illustrate how to apply the framework to an investigation.

1. S T A T I S T I C A L I N Q U I R Y C Y C L E
PPDAC

2. http://new.censusatschool.org.nz/resource/data-detective-poster/

3. Problem
 What question are we trying to answer?
 What variables does that involve?
 Whom are we talking about? Be specific!
 “Is there a relationship between X and Y for
Z-PEOPLE?”

4. Plan
 What are we going to measure? How will we measure
it?
 How will we collect the data? How will we record it?

5. Data
 Collect the data
 Display it clearly
 Does any data need to be cleaned?

6. Analysis
 Sort the data
 Draw graphs
 Do calculations
 Write observations
What do you notice?
 Look for patterns, make a hypothesis

7. Conclusion
 What’s the answer to your question?
 How reliable is this answer? Why?
 Does this answer surprise you? How does it fit with
your hypothesis / what you expected?
 What other questions does this lead to?
(“where to from here?”)
 How would you do this differently next time?
Were there any limitations with this investigation?
Did anything go wrong?

8. Classify these elements of an investigation cycle
 On the following slides are pieces of an investigation
report. Which heading would you expect to find
them under?
Problem, Plan, Data, Analysis or Conclusion?

9. Classify these elements of an investigation cycle

10. Classify these elements of an investigation cycle

11. Classify these elements of an investigation cycle
 The population is: ALL YEAR 9 STUDENTS IN NZ

12. Classify these elements of an investigation cycle
 The population is: ALL YEAR 9 STUDENTS IN NZ

13. Classify these elements of an investigation cycle
 If I was to do this investigation again, I would take
measurements from all of the different year 9 classes
at Middleton Grange School. This would ensure a
more reliable representation of the population.

14. Classify these elements of an investigation cycle
 If I was to do this investigation again, I would take
measurements from all of the different year 9 classes
at Middleton Grange School. This would ensure a
more reliable representation of the population.

15. Classify these elements of an investigation cycle
 The mean of the Pulse Rate Pre-Exercise data is
78bpm, and the mean of the Pulse Rate Post-
Exercise data is 107bpm.

16. Classify these elements of an investigation cycle
 The mean of the Pulse Rate Pre-Exercise data is
78bpm, and the mean of the Pulse Rate Post-
Exercise data is 107bpm.

17. Classify these elements of an investigation cycle
 I will need to make sure that I start measuring the
pulse rate very quickly after doing the exercise, so it
doesn’t have time to slow down again.

18. Classify these elements of an investigation cycle
 I will need to make sure that I start measuring the
pulse rate very quickly after doing the exercise, so it
doesn’t have time to slow down again.

19. Classify these elements of an investigation cycle
 One of the measurements for Pulse Rate Post-
Exercise was 20bpm, while that student’s Pre-
Exercise rate was 81bpm. I think the number should
have been 120 instead of 20. I couldn’t be sure,
however, and 20 is not possible; so I removed the
value altogether.

20. Classify these elements of an investigation cycle
 One of the measurements for Pulse Rate Post-
Exercise was 20bpm, while that student’s Pre-
Exercise rate was 81bpm. I think the number should
have been 120 instead of 20. I couldn’t be sure,
however, and 20 is not possible; so I removed the
value altogether.