Statistical Question — Definition, Formula & Examples
A statistical question is a question you would expect to get different answers for, because the data naturally varies. For example, 'How tall are the students in my class?' is statistical because heights differ from student to student.
A statistical question is one that anticipates variability in the responses or data collected, meaning it cannot be answered with a single fixed value. It requires gathering data from multiple observations or individuals and summarizing that data to form an answer (CCSS 6.SP.A.1).
How It Works
To decide whether a question is statistical, ask yourself: Would I get different answers if I collected data from multiple sources? If yes, it is a statistical question. If the question has exactly one correct answer with no variability, it is not statistical. A statistical question leads you to collect, organize, and describe data rather than state a single fact.
Example
Problem: Classify each question as statistical or not statistical: (A) How many hours per week do sixth graders spend on homework? (B) How many days are in October?
Check Question A: Different sixth graders spend different amounts of time on homework. You would collect many answers that vary, so this expects variability in the data.
Check Question B: October always has exactly 31 days. There is only one answer with no variability.
Answer: Question A is a statistical question. Question B is not a statistical question.
Why It Matters
Recognizing statistical questions is the starting point for every data investigation in a 6th-grade statistics unit. It shapes what data you collect and which tools — dot plots, histograms, measures of center — you use to answer the question. Careers in public health, market research, and data science all begin by framing the right statistical question.
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Thinking any question involving a number is statistical.
Correction: 'What is the school's zip code?' involves a number but has only one fixed answer and no variability. A statistical question must anticipate different data values across observations.