Activity: Gathering Data for Questions

First do these two activities:

• Asking Questions Activity
• Improving Questions Activity

Now choose one of your questions, and let's work out how to gather the data!

How to Gather

How you gather the data depends on the type of question.

• If it is about people's ideas or opinions you may need to do a survey
• If it just needs counting, go out and count!

Select your Method

But before you go gathering data, make a form that can be filled in.

The form can be on paper and you can use a clipboard.

Or it can be computer-based. If so choose your software.

Plan to gather as much information for each answer that you can (without affecting people's privacy) so that you can play with the data later.

Prepare Each Question

Now create your own recording sheet like the example above before you begin.

Do a Test Run

Try your questions on a friend or two.

Then go out and do your survey!

Privacy

Don't record people's names, phone numbers, or private details on your sheet. Keep responses anonymous.

And Be Polite

Always be polite when asking questions, the person is being kind to you by taking the time to answer your questions.

If they don't want to answer a question don't force them, just put "no answer" on your form.