NZQA registered unit standard
28472 version 1
Page 1 of 5
Title
Apply understanding of statistical issues to data-related stories
Level
6
Purpose
Credits
20
This unit standard is for people involved in news gathering who
are required to understand statistical issues in order to
accurately analyse, describe and write data-related stories.
People credited with this unit standard are able to: identify and
describe statistical issues within a supplied case study story,
and rewrite the story to resolve the issue; and analyse, interpret
and report on statistical issues that have arisen during the
writing of stories in the workplace.
Classification
Journalism > Applied Journalism
Available grade
Achieved
Explanatory notes
1
Evidence presented for award of credit must be in accordance with the required
standards for applied journalism, found in the current editions of: Statement of
Principles (Wellington: New Zealand Press Council, 2006) available at
http://www.presscouncil.org.nz/principles.php – for print journalism; Radio Code of
Broadcasting Practice (Wellington: New Zealand Broadcasting Standards Authority,
July 2008) available at http://bsa.govt.nz/standards/overview – for radio mode; Pay
Television Code of Broadcasting Practice (Wellington: New Zealand Broadcasting
Standards Authority, January 2008) available at
http://bsa.govt.nz/standards/overview; and the Free-to-Air Television Code of
Broadcasting Practice (Wellington: New Zealand Broadcasting Standards Authority,
May 2011) available at http://bsa.govt.nz/standards/overview; and any subsequent
amendment.
2
Relevant legislation
Statistics Act 1975
New Zealand Productivity Commission Act 2010
Immigration Act 2009
Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009
Income Tax Act 2007
Public Records Act 2005
Local Government Act 2002
Accident Compensation Act 2001
Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Act 1995
Tax Administration Act 1994
Citizens Initiated Referenda Act 1993
Electoral Act 1993
Competenz
SSB Code 101571
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
28472 version 1
Page 2 of 5
Privacy Act 1993
Education Act 1989
Public Finance Act 1989
State Sector Act 1988
Official Information Act 1982
Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion Act 1977
3
Industry text
Hannis, G.(Ed.) Intro: A beginner's guide to journalism in 21st-century Aotearoa/New
Zealand (Wellington: New Zealand Journalists Training Organisation (now part of
Competenz), 2014). ISBN 978-0-473-26642-4. This publication can be obtained
from http://www.competenz.org.nz/journalism-bookstore/.
4
Relevant texts
Livingston, Charles and Voakes, Paul, Working with Numbers and Statistics: A
Handbook for Journalists (Lawrence Ertbaum Associates), 5th edition, 2005. ISBN10: 0805852492, ISBN-13: 978-0805852493.
Paulos, John Allen, A Mathematician Reads the Newspaper: Making sense of the
Numbers in the Headlines (Penguin), 1996. ISBN: 9780140251814.
5
References
Statistics New Zealand website – http://www.stats.govt.nz/.
United Nations Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics website http://unstats.un.org/unsd/dnss/gp/fundprinciples.aspx.
New Zealand equivalent which by implication all official statistics agencies in New
Zealand should adhere to - http://www.statisphere.govt.nz/tier1statistics.aspx#principles.
http://www.statschat.org.nz/
Reserve Bank’s Inflation Calculator http://www.rbnz.govt.nz/monetary_policy/inflation_calculator/.
Declaration on Open and Transparent Government http://ict.govt.nz/programmes/open-and-transparent-government/declaration-openand-transparent-government/.
6
For assessment against this unit standard the candidate is required to:
a) Submit a rewrite of a supplied case study story identifying and resolving
statistical issues within the story. This case study story will be supplied by the
journalism sector of Competenz.
b) Submit written reports and supporting documentation, showing how they have
analysed and resolved five different statistical issues (including one relating to
the use of official statistics) arising from published story(ies) selected by the
candidate. These can be selected from either a broadcast or a publication.
7
Definitions
Broadcast refers to broadcast on radio or television, depending on the activities of
the workplace.
Industry standards refers to the required standards for applied journalism and the
industry texts and sources cited in the explanatory notes as well as documented
policies and procedures set down by the workplace.
Official statistics refers to statistics derived by government departments from:
a) statistical surveys
Competenz
SSB Code 101571
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
28472 version 1
Page 3 of 5
b) administrative and registration records and other forms and papers that are
published regularly, or planned to be published regularly, or could be published
regularly.
Official statistics system refers to the government-wide system of policies, practices,
processes, underlying data sources, and people that are involved in producing and
disseminating official statistics.
Publication refers to publication in newspapers, magazines or periodicals, depending
on the activities of the workplace.
Resolving statistical issues includes identifying the issue; evaluating, criticising and
recognising any limitations and clarifying and correcting these where possible;
interpreting the results correctly; and presenting the conclusions in appropriate
language.
Statistical Issues refer to interpretation of statistics within a publication or broadcast.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Identify and describe statistical issues within a supplied case study story, and rewrite the
story to resolve the issues.
Range
statistical issues may relate to, but are not limited to – sampling; sample size,
appropriateness of the sample frame, selection bias, non-response bias,
interviewer bias, leading questions, appropriateness of data display, common
distortions of data in graphics, appropriateness of language, over-interpretation
of results, randomness, association vs. causation, variability, outdated data,
omission of source for figures and information, statistical significance, everyday
significance, relative vs. absolute risk, interpretation of opinion polls.
Evidence requirements
1.1
Statistical issues that are contained in the story are identified and described in
terms of the consequences of potential outcomes and impacts on stakeholders.
Range
stakeholders may include but are not limited to – employer,
audience, newsroom colleagues, other professional colleagues,
self, news sources, news subjects, official statistical system.
1.2
A report explaining how the statistical issues identified in evidence requirement
1.1 could be resolved is written in accordance with industry standards.
1.3
The story is rewritten resolving the statistical issues using one or more of the
options explained in evidence requirement 1.2 in accordance with industry
standards.
Competenz
SSB Code 101571
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
28472 version 1
Page 4 of 5
Outcome 2
Analyse, interpret, and report on statistical issues that have arisen during the writing of
stories in the workplace.
Range
statistical issues may relate to, but are not limited to – sampling, sample size,
appropriateness of the sample frame, selection bias, non-response bias,
interviewer bias, leading questions, appropriateness of data display, common
distortions of data in graphics, appropriateness of language, over-interpretation
of results, randomness, association vs. causation, variability, outdated data,
omission of source for figures and information ,vs. statistical significance,
everyday significance, relative vs. absolute risk, interpretation of opinion polls.
Evidence is required for five different statistical issues from either one story or a
number or stories selected by the candidate.
Evidence showing how each of the issues was resolved must be in the form of a
written report for each story.
Evidence requirements
2.1
Stories are analysed, and statistical issues associated with the stories are
outlined, in terms of relevant legislation, statistical conventions, and general
numerical principles.
2.2
Stakeholders affected by the statistical issues outlined in evidence requirement
2.1 are identified, and their expectations, rights, and responsibilities are
explained.
stakeholders may include but are not limited to – employer,
audience, newsroom colleagues, other professional colleagues,
self, news sources, news subjects, official statistical system.
Range
2.3
Recommendations to resolve the statistical issues identified in evidence
requirement 2.1 are developed and the consequences of potential outcomes
are noted.
Planned review date
31 December 2019
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
24 October 2014
N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference
0002
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Competenz
SSB Code 101571
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
28472 version 1
Page 5 of 5
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA,
before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses
of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by
NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and
which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that
applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies
to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The
CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing
to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors
and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact Competenz qualifications@competenz.org.nz if you wish to suggest
changes to the content of this unit standard.
Competenz
SSB Code 101571
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016