What is a statistical question?

• A. A question that can be answered by collecting data that varies.
• B. A question with a single correct numerical answer.
• C. A question that has no relation to data.
• D. A question about a fixed constant.

Answer: (A)

A statistical question is one that asks for information that can vary when you collect data from different people or items. Because the answers aren’t all the same, you gather many data points and you can describe the overall pattern with averages, ranges, or other summaries. For example, asking how many hours students study per week will yield different answers from different students, so you can analyze the spread and average of those responses.

In contrast, a question with a single fixed numerical answer doesn’t depend on data you collect, a question with no relation to data isn’t asking about measurements, and a question about a fixed constant is about something that doesn’t vary. So the best description is a question that can be answered by collecting data that vary.