Clarification details
Updated July 2019. The section dealing with ‘Statistically based report’ has been updated.
The purpose of clarifications
We create clarification documents to help people understand the current requirements of achievement standards. Clarifications do not introduce new criteria, change the intent of the standard, or change what we expect from assessment.
These documents unpack and explain the language and intent of the standard so people interpret and apply the standard consistently. We provide examples or guidance as illustrations only. They are not prescriptions or requirements.
For official requirements, always refer to the current version of the achievement standard as published by NZQA.
Statistically based report
Students need to evaluate a statistically based report and, if at all possible, have access to the actual survey results.
It is important that the statistically based report contains significant statistical features to enable students to discuss both the features of the survey and the findings of the survey in their evaluation. The focus of the standard is the evaluation of the statistically based report, not the student making their own conclusions from the report.
Students can be provided with a list of focus questions to provide a framework for evaluating the report.
Purpose
For Achieved, students are expected to identify and comment on features and findings of a survey relevant to the report's purpose in their evaluation, so they need to know/understand what the purpose is in order to do this. It would be usual to expect the purpose to be identified by the student.
Features and findings
Students need to identify and comment on features of the report in their evaluation. They also need to identify and comment on findings of the report.
Required quality of student response
For higher grades, a step-up in the quality of the evaluation is required.
Merit is with justification. The step-up in the quality of the evaluation is reference to statistical evidence and the processes used. For example, processes used could be the survey method or choice of analysis for the survey data.
Excellence is with statistical insight. The step-up in the quality is the integration of statistical and contextual information. The student needs to be thinking about the consequences of aspects of the report on the findings, and how possible issues might be addressed.