Make evidence-based recommendations
Use the data you collected to recommend an action, instead of guessing or going with opinion.
- Reading values from a data table: An evidence-based recommendation rests on the numbers, so you must be able to read and compare values in a table first.
- Telling a claim from an opinion: You need to tell apart a statement backed by data and one that is just a preference before you can ground a recommendation in evidence.
Prerequisites are inferred: pending teacher review.
Re-learn the skill with worked practice and clear examples.
An evidence-based recommendation names an action and points to the data that supports it.
A team surveyed 100 students about how they want health reminders. Using the results shown, which is the BEST evidence-based recommendation?
Reviewed| Channel | Students (out of 100) |
|---|---|
| Text message | 55 |
| Poster | 20 |
| 15 | |
| In person | 10 |
- A.Send reminders by email, because email feels professional
- B.Send reminders by text message, because most students (55 of 100) chose it
- C.Use posters, because they look nice on the wall
- D.Tell everyone in person, because talking is friendlier
Show the worked solution ▾
Answer: B. Send reminders by text message, because most students (55 of 100) chose it
- Step 1: Read the strongest result: Text message was chosen by 55 of 100 students, more than any other channel.
- Step 2: Match action to data: The evidence-based recommendation picks the action the data supports and cites the number.
Why it's right: Recommending text message is supported by the data (55 of 100), and it names the number, which is what evidence-based means.
- A: 'Feels professional' is an opinion; only 15 chose email.
- C: 'Looks nice' is an opinion; only 20 chose posters.
- D: 'Friendlier' is an opinion; only 10 chose in person.
Aligned to BI 5.1: evidence-based recommendation · reading level ~grade 9
- A public health team recommends texting because the survey data, not a hunch, shows texting reaches the most people.
Fill these in as you work through the lesson.
- Evidence-based (supported by collected data, not opinion):
- Recommendation (the action you suggest someone take):
- Data (the numbers or facts you gathered):
- Opinion (a personal view that may have no data behind it):
An evidence-based recommendation names an to take and points to the that supports it, instead of relying on opinion.
- What is the difference between an opinion and an evidence-based recommendation?
- If your survey shows most teens skip breakfast, what action does the data point to?
- Why should a recommendation point back to a specific number from your data?
A survey of one school finds that 70 out of 100 students do not know where the nearest free clinic is. Write an evidence-based recommendation, and name the number you used to support it.