Who uses the town centre?
Find out how visitors travel to the centre.
The method
Ask 40 people beside the bus station how they travelled that day.
| Main travel mode | Respondents |
|---|---|
| Bus | 27 |
| Car | 8 |
| Walk or cycle | 5 |
Choose a presentation
A bar chart compares counts. A pie chart can show shares because the categories cover all 40 responses and each person has one main mode.
Follow a limitation through the enquiry
- Limitation
- Sampling beside the bus station is likely to overrepresent bus users.
- Effect on the evidence
- The sample could overestimate the share arriving by bus across the whole centre. Increasing the sample at the same spot may retain this bias.
- A useful improvement
- Sample at several entry points and comparable times using a clear selection rule. Record refusals without collecting identifying details.
Try it yourself
Explain why the proposed improvement would help this enquiry. Then identify something it would still not establish.
One possible answer
Sample at several entry points and comparable times using a clear selection rule. Record refusals without collecting identifying details. This strengthens the evidence for the stated enquiry, but a small study still cannot represent every place or date.
Check your answer: did you address the question, use accurate evidence and explain the link?
Change the conditions
Imagine the same enquiry on another date or at another site. Which part of the method would you keep consistent? Explain why, using the enquiry aim.
What to look for
A useful answer identifies a specific measurement, sampling rule or time condition and explains how consistency makes the comparison fairer.