ERIC Number: EJ1179791
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018-May
Pages: 27
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1570-1824
EISSN: N/A
Sampling in the Wild: How Attention to Variation Supports Middle School Students' Sampling Practice
Forsythe, Michelle E.
Statistics Education Research Journal, v17 n1 p8-34 May 2018
Sampling is a fundamental practice of many scientific disciplines. However, K-12 students are rarely asked to think critically about sampling decisions. Because of this, open questions remain about how best to support students in this practice. This study explores the emergent sampling practice of two classes of sixth-grade students as they investigate the ecology of a local creek. It draws on student interviews, pre/post-tests, student artifacts, and video recordings of classroom activity to identify and trace shifts in the ways in which students approached collecting data. The findings suggest three ways in which students' attention to variation within the context of their ecological investigations supported their development of a more sophisticated practice of sampling.
Descriptors: Sampling, Middle School Students, Grade 6, Ecology, Natural Resources, Pretests Posttests, Video Technology, Data Collection, Semi Structured Interviews, Case Studies
International Association for Statistics Education and the International Statistical Institute. PO Box 24070, 2490 AB The Hague, The Netherlands. Tel: +31-70-3375737; Fax: +31-70-3860025; e-mail: isi@cbs.nl; Web site: http://www.stat.auckland.ac.nz/~iase/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Middle Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
Authoring Institution: N/A
IES Funded: Yes
Grant or Contract Numbers: R305A120217