ExpertMedium2 marksStructured
AQA GCSE · Question 07.3 · Interpreting Results and Evaluating Findings
Give two reasons why the picture might not be that helpful for someone to estimate their risk of lung cancer now.
Give two reasons why the picture might not be that helpful for someone to estimate their risk of lung cancer now.
How to approach this question
1. Critically evaluate the information given in the diagram.
2. Look for limitations. The diagram states "Based on a 2009 study".
3. Reason 1: Consider the date. How might things have changed since 2009? This makes the data potentially outdated.
4. Reason 2: Look at the categories provided. Are they specific enough? Terms like "Heavy smokers" are not defined. The data also doesn't include any other factors that might affect lung cancer risk (e.g., age, genetics, environment).
5. Write down two distinct reasons.
Full Answer
1. **Outdated Data**: The study is from 2009. Smoking habits, medical treatments, and environmental factors may have changed since then, making the data less relevant today.
2. **Lack of Detail**: The categories are very broad. "Heavy smoker" is not defined (e.g., how many cigarettes per day). It also doesn't account for other risk factors like genetics, occupation, or pollution.
This question asks for a critical evaluation of the provided data.
1. **Outdated Information**: The diagram clearly states the data is "Based on a 2009 study". Data that is over a decade old may no longer be accurate. Factors such as smoking prevalence, types of cigarettes, pollution levels, and medical advancements in cancer detection and treatment have all changed, which could alter the current risk percentages.
2. **Oversimplification / Lack of Detail**: The data simplifies a complex issue into just four smoking categories.
* The categories are not defined. For example, what constitutes a "heavy smoker" versus a "current smoker"? How long does someone have to have quit to be a "former smoker"?
* It ignores many other known risk factors for lung cancer, such as age, family history/genetics, exposure to radon gas or asbestos, and general health. An individual's personal risk depends on a combination of all these factors, not just their smoking status.
Common mistakes
✗ Vague answers like "it might be wrong" or "it's not accurate". You need to explain *why*.
✗ Stating that the sample size is unknown. While true, the age of the data and lack of detail are more significant limitations.
Practice the full AQA GCSE Statistics Higher Tier Paper 1
42 questions · hints · full answers · grading
More questions from this exam
Q01Two fair spinners, each numbered 1 to 8, are spun. The numbers they land on are added up. What is...EasyQ02Here is the definition of a term used in sampling.
'Those who are actually available to be part o...EasyQ03Which of these data lists is bi-modal **and** has the mean double the median?EasyQ04This graph was seen on the BBC News App. Circle the letter of the statement for the graph which i...EasyQ05.1A researcher wants to survey 500 secondary school students in a large city to find out their favo...Easy