An Exploration of Data Sets to Enhance Topics within a Sociology and Ethnic Studies Curriculum

Wallace Strong (Ethnic Studies)

wstrong@yvcc.cc.wa.us

Lois Sabol (Sociology)

isabol@yvcc.cc.wa.us

Martin Meister (Mathematics)

mmeister@yvcc.cc.wa.us

Yakima Valley Community College

Exercise 1--Retrieving and Understanding Data

School Deaths

Use the information in the table to answer the following questions.

Deaths at U.S. Schools^a
School Year	Shooting Deaths	Other Homicides^b	Total by Gender Male Female		Total
1992-1993	43	11	47	7	54
1993-1994	39	12	41	10	51
1994-1995	15	5	17	3	20
1995-1996	28	7	25	10	35
1996-1997	15	10	18	7	25
1997-1998	35	8	26	17	43
1998-1999	21	5	21	5	26
^aIncludes all school-related homicides, even those that occurred on the way to or from school; includes suicides, includes school personnel killed at school by other adults; includes adults who had nothing to do with the school but who were found dead on school property. ^bBeating, hanging, jumping, stabbing, strangling. Source: National School Safety Center, 2000.

Create a pictorial representation of the data representing shooting deaths and other homicides (line graph, bar graph, or pie chart).

In 1993-1994, how many school deaths occurred?

In 1995-1996, what percent of total deaths were by shooting?

In 1996-1997, what percent of the victims were female?

In which school years were there fewer shooting deaths than in the previous year?

In which school years did the percentage of female deaths increase?

In 1993-1994, how many of the deaths were suicides?

Compute the average of each column and describe what that number represents.

Based on your pictorial representation and analysis, what trends if any do you see?

In what ways do these data agree with what you have seen or heard in the media?

What social factors could be influencing the higher percentages of deaths attributable to shooting?