Lesson 2

The mathematical purpose of the lesson is for students to recognize the purposes of and differences among sample surveys, experiments, and observational studies. The work of this lesson connects to previous work because students critiqued and evaluated reports on statistical studies from the popular media. The work of this lesson connects to upcoming work because students will investigate the meaning of random in a statistical sense and understand what it means to select at random. When students take turns with a partner listening to their partner’s thinking about and explain their own thinking about recognizing the purposes of and differences among sample surveys, experiments, and observational studies, students are explaining their reasoning and critiquing the reasoning of others (MP3).