Contextualization

Introduction

In our daily lives, we are constantly in contact with various information that is represented in different ways, whether through graphs, tables, diagrams, etc. This happens because we live in a society that produces and consumes information in an increasingly accelerated manner, and mathematics is at the service of that.

One of the fundamental concepts for working with large amounts of data is statistics, a discipline of mathematics that studies the collection, interpretation, and presentation of data. In this project, we will focus specifically on the concept of research and how we can collect, organize, interpret, and present information from a survey.

Working with research and statistical data allows for numerous practical applications. From these data, it is possible to make predictions, make fact-based decisions, and discover patterns and trends. This type of skill is essential not only for mathematicians but also for professionals in various other fields, such as economists, scientists, engineers, among others.

Contextualization

Have you ever stopped to think about how many surveys are conducted every day? Electoral surveys, opinion polls, market research, satisfaction surveys... Surveys are present everywhere and are very powerful tools for understanding and interpreting reality.

When well planned and conducted, surveys can give us a very precise view of a certain phenomenon or situation. On the other hand, if the survey is poorly done, it can lead to erroneous interpretations and misguided decision-making.

Therefore, learning how to plan, conduct, and interpret surveys is a very valuable skill that can be used both in personal and professional life.

Practical Activity

Activity Title: Exploring the Universe of Research

Project Objective

The objective of this project is to provide students with the experience of planning, executing, and interpreting a survey on a topic of their choice. The survey results should be presented in a spreadsheet, using tables and graphs to represent and interpret the collected information.

Through this project, students should develop technical skills, such as survey planning, data collection and analysis, as well as socio-emotional skills, such as teamwork, effective communication, and time management.

Detailed Project Description

Groups of 3 to 5 students should plan and conduct a survey on a topic of their choice. The survey can be done through questionnaires delivered directly to people, or using digital resources, such as online forms.

Students should pay attention to clear and objective questions that allow for collecting relevant information on the chosen topic. After collecting the data, this information should be organized and analyzed using a spreadsheet, so that it can then be interpreted and discussed.

Required Materials

• Paper and pen for planning.
• Computer with internet access and software for creating spreadsheets (such as Excel, Google Sheets, among others).
• Optionally, students can use online tools for creating questionnaires (such as Google Forms, for example).

Detailed Step-by-Step for Carrying Out the Activity

1. Form groups of 3 to 5 students.
2. Choose a topic of interest for the survey.
3. Plan the survey, defining what type of information you want to collect and what questions should be asked to obtain it.
4. Define the survey application method: directly to people or through an online questionnaire.
5. Conduct the survey and collect the obtained data.
6. Use a spreadsheet to organize the collected data.
7. Analyze the data and discuss the results obtained.
8. Prepare a report containing the following topics:
   • Introduction: contextualization of the topic and research objective.
   • Development: description of the methodology used, detailed data analysis, and discussion of the results.
   • Conclusion: reflection on the learnings and conclusions obtained from the project.
   • Bibliography: references used for the project.
9. Present the report and survey results to the class.

Project Deliverables

At the end of the project, groups should deliver:

1. The electronic spreadsheet used for data organization and analysis;
2. The written report, which should contain sections of introduction, development, conclusion, and bibliography.

It is important that the report is coherent and connected to the project narrative, referring to the data and analyses collected and presented in the spreadsheet.