An Investigative Process

The statistical process is an investigative process. It is also a repetitive or cyclical process. Analyzing the results of one study can often lead researchers to consider other research questions and then conduct additional research. Thinking more carefully about how the data were collected may also lead researchers to consider ways to improve the data collection process.

A particular research topic is at the heart of any statistical investigation. The data collected for the research objective have context within a story that statistics helps us understand. The research objective presents a scenario that helps us get to the context of the data that needs to be collected to tell that story. And, since data vary, one goal of the process is to determine the source of the variability. We see that the questions, data collection, and analysis surrounding the research objective are integral and inseparable parts of the process.

In summary, we understand that the statistics process is an investigative process that revolves around a research objective. It involves asking questions, collecting the appropriate data, then analyzing the data and interpreting results. 

Some of the key takeaways from this activity include that:

• Statistical thinking is different from mathematical thinking.
• Data will vary, within an individual or within a group.
• The context of the data is important. Researchers must consider the goals of the study and what the data represent.
• Working together as a learning community offers many benefits. Let’s begin establishing our own learning community in this course.

Now let’s put it all together to answer Question 6 below: the reasons why we use statistics, the importance of understanding how it works, and nature of statistical thinking.