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Data and Society 9-12 / Week 02 / Mission Quest
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Week 02 · Asking Good Questions

Mission Quest

Mission Quest: A one-question survey
// Choosing how to collect data that can fairly answer the question
⏱ about 20 min

Mission Quest: A One-Question Survey

On Saturday morning Comet arrives at the Commons with a single index card. "One question," she says. "That is all."

Wren reads it. "What is your favorite season? Spring, summer, fall or winter." He nods. "Fixed choices. Easy to count."

"And I ask first," Comet adds. "If someone says no, that is fine."

Nova hovers near the card. "Would you like a hint?" she asks. "Write tally marks only. No names, no ages, no initials."

Comet grins. "Then it stays at home, where it belongs."

Wren hands you a fresh card. "Data analyst, write your own question and try it with your family."

  1. Surveys, interviews, direct observation and user testing are ways to find out what people need.
  2. A census counts everyone. A sample asks some, and in a random sample each person who answers stands for many.
  3. Open-box answers may not be uniform. Fixed choices are easier to count.
  4. Bias often comes from the type or source of the data, and more data does not remove it.
  5. Diverse perspectives help avoid bias.
◇ A ONE-QUESTION SURVEY
You need an index card or a scrap of paper and a pencil.
Write one opinion question with three to five fixed choices, such as "Which season do you like best?"
Ask a family member if they are willing to answer. Tell them they can skip the question or stop at any time.
Only if they say yes, read the question and the choices aloud.
Record each answer as a tally mark next to its choice. Write no names, ages, initials or other details.
If more family members say yes, ask them too, one at a time.
Count the tally marks and keep the card at home.
For a grown-up
This is the only kind of data about people this course asks families to collect: one opinion question with fixed choices.
Everyone asked says yes first, can skip or stop, and is recorded only as a tally mark. The card stays at home.
Ask: did any of the choices not fit someone? How would you change the choices?

Here is Wren's practice card, made up for the story.

ChoiceTallyCount
Spring||2
Summer|||3
Fall|1
Winter|1
QUEST CHECK
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
How many answers are on Wren's practice card?
A family member says, "Not right now." What do you do?
What do you write down for each answer?
Your one-question survey of a few family members is which kind?
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