Worksheet for identifying statistical vs. non-statistical questions with numbered examples and space for student responses.

Let’s go step by step to figure out which questions are statistical and which are non-statistical.

Remember the rule from the worksheet:
> A statistical question is one that results in varying responses (data).
> → You must collect data from more than one person or thing.
> → The answers should be able to vary — not just one single answer.

Also, ask yourself:
- Would I need to ask more than one person to answer this?
- Will the answers likely be different for different people/things?

If YES to both → it’s statistical.
If NO → it’s non-statistical.

---

Let’s go through each question:

1) What is your height?
→ This is asking about *you* only. One person. One answer. No variation needed.
✔ Non-statistical

2) What are the heights of the players on the LA Lakers basketball team?
→ Multiple players → multiple heights → data will vary.
✔ Statistical

3) On average, how many books are checked out from the library weekly?
→ “On average” means we’re looking at data over time or across weeks → varies.
✔ Statistical

4) Did it rain more in Mobile, Alabama in February or November last year?
→ This is a fact-based comparison between two specific months last year. Only one correct answer based on records. Not collecting new data from multiple sources.
✔ Non-statistical

5) How many students earned all A’s on their report card?
→ We’re counting how many students did something → involves multiple students → data can vary depending on class/school/time.
✔ Statistical

6) On average, how much does it rain in Mobile, Alabama monthly?
→ Again, “on average” implies collecting rainfall data over many months → varies.
✔ Statistical

7) How many hours per week do you spend watching TV?
→ Asking *you* only → one answer → no variation needed.
✔ Non-statistical

8) What is the typical height of a sixth-grade student?
→ “Typical” suggests we’re looking at a group (many sixth graders) → data will vary → we might find an average or median.
✔ Statistical

9) How many A’s do students at Foley Intermediate earn on a weekly basis?
→ Involves multiple students → data will vary → we’d collect info from many kids.
✔ Statistical

10) How many books did you check out from the library this week?
→ Again, asking *you* → one answer → no variation.
✔ Non-statistical

11) How tall is the tallest basketball player in the NBA?
→ This is a single fact — there’s only one tallest player right now. Even though it’s among many players, the question asks for *the tallest*, which is one value. Not collecting varied data — just finding a maximum.
⚠️ Tricky! But since it’s asking for a single extreme value (not a distribution or average), and doesn’t require gathering data from multiple people to describe variability — it’s often considered non-statistical in middle school contexts.
✔ Non-statistical *(based on common curriculum interpretation)*

12) How many hours of TV do students in your class watch each week?
→ Multiple students → answers will vary → we’d collect data from everyone in class.
✔ Statistical

13) Write your own statistical question:
We need to make up a question that requires collecting data from more than one person/thing and where answers vary.

Example:
→ “How many pets do students in our school have?”
→ “What are the favorite ice cream flavors of 7th graders?”
→ “How long does it take students in our grade to get to school?”

Pick one simple one.

14) Write your own non-statistical question:
Needs to be answerable with one fact or about one person/thing.

Example:
→ “What is your birthday?”
→ “How old are you?”
→ “What color is your backpack?”

---

Now let’s write the final answers clearly.

Final Answer:
1) Non-statistical
2) Statistical
3) Statistical
4) Non-statistical
5) Statistical
6) Statistical
7) Non-statistical
8) Statistical
9) Statistical
10) Non-statistical
11) Non-statistical
12) Statistical
13) Example: How many siblings do students in your class have?
14) Example: What is your favorite subject in school?