Comparison of data sets as a precursor to inferential statistics

Abstract

Comparing two data sets can be a powerful tool in light of its use toward a consideration of inferential statistics. Both informal and formal statistical reasoning are developed when comparing data sets, which has implications for researchers who investigate ways to help students transfer from informal to formal reasoning. In this paper, we examined students’ reasoning to identify how they treat data value, center, spread, and sample, which are important factors in inferential statistics. Students' understanding of data value, center, and spread were appropriate, but that of sample was not. From the results, we suggest instructional ideas for a task which can connect descriptive and inferential statistics.