Session 2: Asking Good Questions
Not all questions can be answered with data. Learn which ones can — and how the way you ask changes what you find.
Your Progress
Lessons 1-4
Practice
Session Quiz
Review
Learning Objectives
By the end of this session, you will be able to:
- Distinguish between questions data can answer and questions it cannot
- Write clear, specific, unbiased survey questions
- Understand that how you ask a question affects the answer you get
- Practice turning vague wonderings into data-ready questions
Why This Matters
A data scientist's most important skill is asking the right question. A great question leads to useful data. A bad question leads to confusion.
Session Lessons
1
What Can Data Answer?
Learn to tell the difference between questions data can answer and questions it cannot.
~30 minutes Discussion
2
Writing Good Survey Questions
Learn the rules of writing clear, fair survey questions that get useful answers.
~30 minutes Activity
3
Who You Ask Matters
Discover that your results change depending on who you survey. This is called sampling.
~30 minutes Discussion
4
Your Data Question
Write your own data question, plan who to ask, and get ready to collect data in Session 3.
~30 minutes Activity