Part B: interpreting quantitative data (word count: 750)
As you will be aware, the last census was in 2011 and the data from that is now available along with some updates. If you are interested you can look at the whole range of data sets for your area, however for the assessed task we want you to explore the more specific data under ‘neighborhood statistics’.
You can find the relevant link at: http://dclgapps.communities.gov.uk/imd/iod_index.html
This type of quantitative data focuses upon those things that can easily be measured, and so is likely to be more linked to work, education and health, but there is a useful website area which examines the environment.
You will see that the website identifies the Index of Multiple deprivation and 9domains, which are:
- Income deprivation
- Employment deprivation
- Education, skills and training
- Health deprivation & disability
- Crime
- Barriers to housing & services
- Living environment deprivation
- Income deprivation affecting children
- Income deprivation affecting older people
You should then complete a written account of the data and include here whether or not there were aspects of the data, which you found surprising, challenging an assumption you have previously held. You can also find out how your ara compares to neighbouring areas.
You should clarify the extent to which the data is above or below regional/national averages, and where the area lies on the deprivation index. (this is to be found in the box on the right hand side)
Some will live right on the edge of a ward, but see their area as being the neighboring ward – those to whom this applies will find out soon enough. Whichever ward you use is up to you, but you only need to use the data from one ward.
You should remember that the importance of the section is for you to demonstrate that you can understand statistical data. It therefore is assessing a skill and not the integrity of the data.
Whilst this is a continuation of data about ‘where I live’ it is quite easy to put this into the third person – for example: ‘In the immediate neighborhood of Graemesville (or wherever it is you live) there are 1512 people and in the area of Graemesville as a whole there are 7,738 people of which over half are women (4,011) according to the 2019 population estimates.
These two sections form the data for your subsequent discussion in Part C. Although all three are handed in at the same time, the weekly outline gives a timeline of when you should aim to complete Part A and then Part B.