VC2M5ST01

acquire, validate and represent data for nominal and ordinal categorical and discrete numerical variables to address a question of interest or purpose using software including spreadsheets; discuss and report on data distributions in terms of highest frequency (mode) and shape, in the context of the data

• recognising that ordinal data is a form of categorical data even though the data being collected might be numbers, for example, a rating scale using numbers 1–5 to represent the categories people can choose from when asked, ‘What rating would you give this film out of 5?’
• determining the mode for a set of data and discussing that there may be more than one mode
• identifying the best methods of presenting data to illustrate the results of investigations and justifying the choice of representations
• acquiring data through chance experiments, discussing and reporting on the distribution of outcomes and how this relates to equal and unequal outcomes
• using digital systems to validate data; for example, recognising the difference between numerical, text and date formats in spreadsheets, and setting data types in a spreadsheet to make sure a date is input correctly
• investigating data relating to the reconciliation process between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and non-Indigenous Australians, posing questions, discussing and reporting on findings