| Foundation
tier |
Higher tier |
Notes |
Resources |
| Construction of frequency
tables by tallying raw data.
|
|
Both qualitative and
quantitative (discrete or continuous) data will be used, in grouped or
ungrouped form as appropriate. |
|
| Class intervals. |
Open-ended classes. |
|
|
| Simplifying tables by
combining categories and reducing the number of significant figures;
resulting effects on readability: identifying or masking of
patterns/trends; loss of detail. |
Problems of under and over
simplification resulting from unsuitable choice of group size or number of
significant figures. |
|
|
| Reading and interpreting data
presented in tabular or graphical form. |
|
Tables of data drawn from the
media and from Government and other statistical sources may be used. |
|
| Design of tables to summarise
data effectively.
Design and use of appropriate two-way tables. |
|
To include the listing of all
outcomes for single events, and for two successive events in a systematic
way. |
|
| Foundation
tier |
Higher
tier |
Notes |
Resources |
| Qualitative data:
bar and pie charts, pictograms.
Multiple and composite bar charts. |
Comparative pie
charts (area proportional to total frequency). |
Detailed drawing
of pictograms will not be expected. |
|
| Discrete data;
vertical line graphs. |
Cumulative
frequency step polygons. |
|
|
| Continuous data;
grouped frequency diagrams with equal class intervals.
Frequency polygons.
Cumulative frequency polygons. Population pyramids. |
Histograms with
equal or unequal class intervals. |
Candidates
should know the term frequency density.
Comparisons of changes over time and the possible
practical consequences are required at the Higher tier only.
|
|
| Stem and leaf
diagrams. |
|
|
|
| Shading maps
(choropleth
maps).
|
|
Shading (or
choropleth) maps are widely used in Geography as indication of development
(levels of income, diet, etc). |
|
| Transforming data
presentation from one form to another. |
|
|
|
| The shapes and
simple properties of frequency distributions; symmetrical, positive and
negative skew.
|
The shape and
simple properties of the normal frequency distribution. |
The normal
frequency distribution is symmetrical, has approximately 95% of values
within two standard deviations of the mean; almost all values are within 3
standard deviations of the mean. |
|
| Bivariate data:
scatter diagrams. |
|
|
|
| Time series: line
graphs. |
|
|
|
| Other
diagrammatic representations for comparisons of data using length. |
Use of area and
volume.
Comparison of the various diagrammatic
representations using area or volume, including their advantages and
disadvantages. |
|
|
| Visual
misrepresentation: misuse or omission of origin or scale.
Broken, incorrect or changed scales.
Incomplete definitions and
labelling. |
Misuse of length,
area and volume in pictorial comparison. |
|
|
| Interpretation of
information presented in diagrammatic form; distinction between well and
poorly presented data.
Spotting possible errors in a data set by recognising
outliers that do not fit a general pattern. |
|
Diagrams drawn
from the media and from Government and other statistical sources may be
used.
Where these are not of the types named in the
specification, the interpretation required will be at an appropriate level
for Foundation or Higher tier. |
|