Final answer:
Survey teams observed where schoolchildren were at various times over a 24-hour day and found that, averaged out, about one-third were in school, which does not indicate truancy, but rather the portion of time that students spend in school.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to how data collected on the whereabouts of schoolchildren over a full 24-hour period should be interpreted.
Survey teams counted children at various times throughout the day and night. Observations included children at home asleep during the night and those returning from school in the late afternoon. The result of the survey indicates that on average, one-third of all youngsters were found in school. This finding should not lead to the conclusion that two-thirds of students are truants. Rather, this represents the proportion of time, on average, that children between the ages 6 to 18 spend in school over a 24-hour period.