Exploratory data analysis

What does research suggest about teaching statistics using exploratory data analysis (EDA)?

EDA is an informal and exploratory approach to statistics characterised by drawing different representations, searching for patterns and considering “what is going on here?”
Statistics education research suggests using EDA at any age, and waiting until later to use CDA
EDA allows students to be “data detectives”; using creative and varied approaches to statistics which may provide a richer, more coherent experience
Creating and moving between different representations, as well as using proportional reasoning, are key skills that can connect students’ mathematical experiences across topics
Students can use any useful representations (and invent their own) but should consider how robust these measures are
Students should have access to data sets containing multiple data types so that they get used to independently sifting and selecting what to focus on
Using research-supported technology such as TinkerPlots, Fathom and CODAP supports EDA by allowing students to test ideas and focus on data interpretation

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