The Data Investigation Process

Today, the ability to make sense of data is essential. K-12 students need educational experiences that can assist them in developing data literacy for global citizenry, and career and college pathways related to statistics and data science (e.g., Engel, 2017; Gould, 2017). Statistics and practices with data are included in standards and goals across the K-12 curriculum. Science puts a heavy emphasis on reasoning from and with data to understand scientific phenomena. English and Social Studies include ensuring data and appropriate visualizations are used to support arguments as well as to understand historical trends, and often inequities, in social structures of our world. Mathematics curricula emphasize measurement data and graphic displays in elementary grades and a strong focus on statistics and probability from grades 6-12. Throughout K-12, students should develop a practice of using data in investigations of real-world phenomena through processes that will prepare them to be data-literate citizens and open doors for data-intensive career pathways in sciences, technology, engineering, journalism, medicine, sports analytics, business, mathematics, statistics, and data science.