Ask a question and collect answers — Data, 4–6 years
Data often begins with a question. We can ask people the same simple question and keep their answers so we can learn something about the group.
Start with a question
Data can start when we wonder about something and ask a clear question. For example, “Which fruit do people in our room like best?” Each person gives one answer, and we keep the answers together so they can be looked at later.
Why ask everyone the same way?
A question solves the problem of guessing what a group thinks or likes. Asking everyone the same question makes the answers fair to compare. People have collected answers for a long time to make shared decisions, such as choosing food or planning a journey.
Example: favourite fruit
We ask four children, “Which fruit do you choose: apple, banana or pear?” Ana says apple, Ben says banana, Chiara says apple, and Dan says pear. We write one answer for each child, then notice that apple was chosen twice, banana once and pear once.
The tempting mistake
It is easy to ask one friend and treat that answer as the group’s answer. That feels sensible because a friend is part of the group, but one person may like something unusual. Asking more people gives a better picture, especially when the group has different tastes.
Where it is useful
We use questions and answers when a family chooses a film, a class chooses a game, or a doctor asks about symptoms. Shops and parks also ask people what they need. The answers help someone plan, but they are not a promise that every person will agree.
Keep exploring
Other languages
Loading MyLeoNes™…