Key Idea: Data analysis is about reading evidence honestly — interpret graphs, judge credibility, and don't over-claim.
Topic 4.4 at a glance
- Interpreting data — Read bar/line/box-plots and descriptive stats; state the limit of interpretation.
- Research considerations — Credibility, bias, generalisability and transferability.
- Drawing conclusions — Synthesise across sources; a correlation isn't a cause.
Read · Judge · Conclude
IB-style questionAnalyse[6 marks]
A study presents a bar chart comparing two groups. Explain one limitation of interpreting the chart, and how you would strengthen the conclusion.
Model answer plan
See the mark-by-mark plan — for / against / judgement, with marking guidance — in study mode.
What is transferability? How far qualitative findings apply beyond the studied context.
One limit of interpreting a graph? It shows a pattern, not a cause; samples may be unrepresentative.
How to strengthen a conclusion? Use several sources and note credibility and bias.
Q1 = a limit of interpretation; Q3 = improve credibility; Q4 = 'to what extent' using ≥3 sources with evaluation.