Representing Data

In representing our data we move from reporting data to showing trends and patterns in the physical, chemical, and biological phenomena we observe. As we make decisions about the types of data we collect, we simultaneously need to think about how we will analyze and represent the data. Data representations are driven by the types of data collected. Qualitative data describes your observations in words or pictures and quantitative data describes the e periment in terms of numbers. !hese data are often displayed in tables. "raph data whenever possible. #elationships are more easily identified in a graphic presentation as compared to a table. $ome data that cannot be graphed on coordinates can be e pressed in pictorial form using other graphics such as a histogram. $upplement each graphic with a brief descriptive te t following the general guidelines described above. !he title of your graph should be centered and placed %ust above the graph. &abel both the 'a is and the y'a is. (e sure to indicate the units used in the e periment. )ultiple data points should be graphed to provide a comparison among the e perimental conditions.

!o choose the type of graph that will best display your data, decide if your independent variable is continuous or discrete. Continuous variables are those measured on an ongoing scale such as length, temperature or time. !he values range on a continuum, for e ample from * to +** mm, or * to +** ,, or * to -* min. !he intervals between numbers on a continuous scale are equal. !hat is, the distance from + to . mm is the same as from +. to +- mm. Categorical/ Discrete variables are described by separate categories. !here is no continuum between the categories/ there are no values between the categories. 0 amples of discrete variables include, dog breeds 1greyhounds, pit bulls or terriers2 or makes of car 1()3, 4onda or 5ord2. In science, types of antibiotics are an e ample of categorical variables. Types of Graphs. 5or continuous variables use a line graph. !he Independent 6ariable 1descriptive or predictive variables2 belongs on the horizontal 1 2 a is and the Dependent 6ariable 1outcome variable2 belongs on the vertical 1y2 a is. ,hoose appropriate scales for each a is to include all the values for the D6 and the I6. 7ou do not have to start at zero/ line breaks may be used for data that would normally not fit on the graph. If appropriate draw a best'fit'line/ a line that does not necessary connect the points but one that best represents a general trend in the data. (est'fit'lines are often not used in scatter plots. An 8'7 scatter plot shows relationships or a correlation between 9 variables. 5or categorical: discrete variables use a bar graph. !he independent variable 1I62 is placed on the horizontal 1 2 a is. !he dependent variable 1D62 is placed on the vertical 1y2 a is. )ake sure the bars are evenly spaced and label each bar. 4istograms 1frequency distributions2 are used when data can be organized into clumps. A circle/pie graph is used when displaying parts of a whole, for e ample displaying percentages. 0ach wedge should be labeled with the word or data that corresponds.

EXAMPLES Bar Graphs

Figure 1. Effect of Antibiotics A and B on Bacterial Growth
100 "0 !0 0 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 1 2 3 #i$e %da&s'

Line Graph
Figure 2. *ass of +otato ,s #i$e
0.3"
Antibiotic a Antibiotic b )one

0.3! *ass %gra$ s' 0.3 0.36 0.35 0.34 0.33

(nhibition %$ $ '

0.501.000 5 10 #i$ e %$ inutes' 15

0.32

In addition to graphing, data can be represented in pictorial form such as maps. ;r sometimes diagrams are embedded in graphs.

Representing Data What are different types of data representations? What is the purpose of representing our data? In your experience, what are some attributes of graphs that you appreciate?

08!#A$ Ways to describe data. 5ive ways to describe data may be reported in this section including tables, observations, sample calculations and graphs. +. Tables. ;rganize the data from your e periment into charts or tables. (e sure to use a ruler if you are hand drawing the table or chart. ,onsider using a computer program such as 0 cel, $<$$ or 3ord. #ecord your numerical data and observations 1scientific drawings, photographs, audio tapes, videos, written notes2.

=se the proper metric units and use the >significant figures? to reflect the accuracy of the instrument used to obtain the data. !his means that if you are using an electric scale that has an accuracy of 9 decimal places, then report your results using 9 decimal places. 5or e ample, report ..** grams, not . grams. Describe the data in a few sentences. #emember to state the e act results, but do not make inferences or draw conclusions.

EXAMPLE !able + Changes in Potato Mass Over Time @ $alt Initial )ass )ass at B min 1Aa,l2 1grams2 1grams2 *.B@ *..C *..C +.*@ *..D *..D

)ass at+* min 1grams2 *..B *..E

5inal )ass at +B min 1grams2 *..B *..F

!he data listed above show the mass of + cm of potato cube over time. 5or the *.B@ solution, mass ranged from *..C g to *..B g from initial time period the final time period. In the *.B@ and the +.*@ salt solution, mass increased slightly over time. 9. Observations. ;bservations are descriptions or scientific drawings of findings that are not based on numbers. 0 amples include a growth appearing in a bacterial e periment or the color and height of a chemical responding to a flame. An observation is different from an inference/ it describes what the ob%ect or event looks like, not the reason you think a change happened. .. Sample Calculations. Displaying your calculations is an important way to show how you derived your data. 3hen writing sample calculations, first show the formula or steps for the calculation, then show an e ample using the numbers. (o or underline your final answer. It is not necessary to show all calculations/ one e ample of each type is sufficient. EXAMPLE !able 9 Percent Change in Mass % Salt +.* @ % Change in ass ! " ass #inal $ ass initial% & '(( @ ,hange in mass G 1*..Fg H *..D g2 +** @ G *.*9 +**

@ G 9.* @ !he change of mass at +B minutes was calculated as the percentage change compared to the initial mass. In the +.*@ salt solution, the change was positive/ the mass of the potato increased. C. Statistics. #unning programs with basic statistics are often helpful for summarizing your data and drawing conclusions from the data. )any calculators and computer programs can run simple statistics. 4elpful analysis may include descriptive and analytic statisticsI Average, )ean 1or other measures of central tendency2 $tandard Deviations from the mean <robability 1especially in genetics2 <ercentages 1the part of the whole2 ,orrelation is measured in terms of r or r9 and ranges from H+ to J+. A value of one is a perfect correlation and a value of zero is represents no correlation. !his statistic is most useful with larger sample sizes. t'tests