Trends, means, error, reliability, validity and limitations of conclusions

What this note covers

1. Reading trends, patterns and relationships directly from data
2. Calculating and using means, and predicting values from graphs
3. Random error and systematic error: sources and how they are addressed
4. Worked example: analysing a constructed data set
5. Reliability versus validity: the distinction examiners flag most often
6. Limitations of conclusions: to whom and to what situations they apply
7. How this topic is examined in the SACE paper and what separates a top response

7 sections · 11 key terms & formulas · 6 common mistakes