Session 2 Family Guide

Data Science for Young Minds — Tips for families facilitating Session 2: Asking Good Questions

Overview

Not all questions can be answered with data. Learn which ones can — and how the way you ask changes what you find.

Facilitating Each Lesson

Lesson 1: What Can Data Answer?

Tip: Learn to tell the difference between questions data can answer and questions it cannot. Take time to let your child explore and share their thoughts.

Try asking: "What do you think about questions data can answer: how many? how often? which is most common??"

Lesson 2: Writing Good Survey Questions

Tip: Learn the rules of writing clear, fair survey questions that get useful answers. Take time to let your child explore and share their thoughts.

Try asking: "What do you think about what makes a good survey question: clear, specific, unbiased?"

Lesson 3: Who You Ask Matters

Tip: Discover that your results change depending on who you survey. This is called sampling. Take time to let your child explore and share their thoughts.

Try asking: "What do you think about what a sample is: the group of people you ask?"

Lesson 4: Your Data Question

Tip: Write your own data question, plan who to ask, and get ready to collect data in Session 3. Take time to let your child explore and share their thoughts.

Try asking: "What do you think about choosing a topic you are genuinely curious about?"

Conversation Starters

"What did you learn about questions data can answer: how many? how often? which is most common??"
"What did you learn about what makes a good survey question: clear, specific, unbiased?"
"What did you learn about what a sample is: the group of people you ask?"
"What did you learn about choosing a topic you are genuinely curious about?"