Educator Guide: Look to the Outliers

Science & Society
Data Analysis
Research & Design

February 26, 2022

illustration of one human figure standing separate from a group of figures — In any large dataset involving the choices people make, a handful of people will succeed when most others like them fail. Zooming in on those outliers and mapping out how they made their choices could give those failing in similar circumstances a leg up.

Hermann Mueller/Getty Images, adapted by E Otwell

About this guide

In this guide, students will learn about outliers and why some social scientists study them in an effort to improve people’s lives.

This Guide Includes:

Exercise type:Comprehension
Topic:Science & Society

Defying expectations

Students will answer questions about the online Science News article “Why do some people succeed when others fail? Outliers provide clues,” which describes how research into communities that defy expectations can reveal ways to help others.

Exercise type:Discussion
Topic:Science & Society
Category:Data Analysis
Category:Research & Design

All about outliers

Students will define what an outlier is and discuss why outliers occur, how to identify them and how they can be useful for science and society.