FDN130: Age of Information

Many people skim over the quantitative material that they encounter,
in the form of tables, graphs, charts or text. However, it is important
for everyone to be able to engage with this kind of material to enable
them to extract information and make informed decisions about
issues that are of relevance to them. This activity uses a Five Step
Framework which has been designed to help you develop strategies
to understand and interpret data presented in a variety of ways. It
starts by looking at the context, then it considers actual numbers
and what they mean and then builds up to looking at the meanings
and reasons behind the data. Once you have used the framework
here and see how it works you can apply it to other situations.

Five Step Framework for Reading Tables & Graphs

Step 1: Getting Started
Look at the title, axes, headings, legends, footnotes and source to
find out the context and expected reliability of the data.

Step 2: WHAT do the numbers mean?

Make sure you know what all the numbers (percentages, ‘000s etc
represent). Look for the largest and smallest values in one or more
categories or years to get an impression of the data.

Step 3: HOW do they change or differ?

Look at the differences in the values of the data in a single data set,
a row or column or part of a graph. This may involve changes over
time, or comparison within categories, such as male and female, at
any given time.

Step 4: WHERE are the differences?

What are the relationships in the table that connect the variables.
Use information from Step 3 to help you make comparisons.

Step 5: WHY do they change?

Look for reasons for the relationships in the data that you have
found by considering social, environmental and economic factors.
Think about sudden or unexpected changes in terms of state,
national and international policies.

Age of Information FDN130

Marian Kemp Student Learning TLC
Population Pyramids

Age of Information FDN130

Marian Kemp Student Learning TLC
 Comparing population pyramids
aQ
T

Step 1:Getting started

Q: What information do the graphs contain?

Q: For what year are they constructed?

Q: Look at the sources to decide how reliable you think they are.

Q: Can we directly compare the two graphs? (look at the scales)

Step 2: What do the numbers mean?

Q: Approximately how many males 0-4 years in Malaysia?

Q: Approximately how many females 0-4 years in Malaysia?

Q: Approximately how many males 80+years in Australia?

Q: Approximately how many females 80+years in Australia?

Q: In which year was a person who was 20 years old in 2005 born?

Q: In which years could the 60-64 year olds have been born?

Step 3: How do they change or differ?

Q: Identify the largest age group of males in Malaysia

Q: Identify the largest age group of males in Australia

Q: Identify the largest age group of females in Malaysia

Q: Identify the largest age group of females in Australia

Age of Information FDN130

Marian Kemp Student Learning TLC
Step 4: Where are the differences?

Q: What kind of growth does the pyramid show for Malaysia?

Q: What kind of growth does the pyramid show for Australia?

Q: Are there gender differences in the different age groups for Malaysia?

Q: Are there gender differences in the different age groups for Australia?

Step 5: WHY do they change?

Think about the information presented in these graphs and comment on the
following areas which may be related to the graphs.
Malaysia Australia
Health care

Child

mortality

Immunisation

Age care

Migration

Income

What other information might you need to justify your comments?

Age of Information FDN130

Marian Kemp Student Learning TLC
 2005 Female/Male Population aged 50-54 years

0.7

0.6

0.5

0.4
Females
Males
0.3

0.2

0.1

Australia Malaysia
Country

Some Answers

Step 1
Information about the populations of Malaysia and Australia by age and gender
2005
Data from the U.S. Census Bureau so would be reliable
We can compare shapes but not the actual population sizes from the look of the
graphs. You need to look at the scales for the actual numbers.
Step 2
About 1.4 million males & about 1.3 million females for 0-4 Malaysia
About 0.25 million = 250 000 & about 0.45 = 450 000 females for 80+ Australia
In 2002
In 1941-1945
Step 3
Largest males Malaysia 0-4 and Australia 35-39
Largest females Malaysia 0-4 and Australia 35-39
Step 4
Malaysia: Rapid growth
Australia: Slow growth
Malaysia: there do not appear to be any large gender differences
Australia: the main difference is that there are more 80+ females than males
See bar chart below for the 50-54 year olds-- no difference in Australia but a
difference in Malaysia.
Step5
Some suggestions only - you need to think about different aspects of the
countries look up information to help you make comments.
Looking at the two pyramids you can see different shapes that suggest some
differences in the nature of the two countries.
The longevity of life of the old people in Australia could be due to better health
care or immunisation at an early age.
The bulge in the middle of Australia might be due to immigration or children of
post war babies.
The small group of 0-4 year olds in Australia may be due to women delaying
childbirth for careers and leaving it too late, or more couples may be choosing
to remain childless.
Keep thinking!!

Age of Information FDN130

Marian Kemp Student Learning TLC
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Age of Information FDN130

Marian Kemp Student Learning TLC
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Age of Information FDN130

Marian Kemp Student Learning TLC