Statistical problem posing, problem refining, and further reflection in grade 6

This report is based on an activity completed by 89 Grade 6 students carrying out a statistical investigation with a focus on posing an initial question given a context and then refining it for a chosen data set. Having reached a conclusion based on evidence from their data analysis, students were given additional information on the context and asked to reconsider their conclusions and degree of certainty associated with them. Data from student workbooks were used to assess students’ capacity to engage in the extensions of a statistical investigation not usually encountered at the school level. Results showed approximately 70% of students were able to carry out the complete investigation and justify a meaningful decision.