Presenting Data in

Tables and Graphs

 What are Data?

2 types:
● Quantitative
○ data that can be counted or measured
○ thus expressed as numbers or “quantities”
● Qualitative
○ data that cannot be counted or measured
○ thus expressed as descriptions of “qualities”
 A Note on Quantitative Data
Precision vs. Accuracy
● Precision - how close
measurements are to each other
under same conditions
● Accuracy - how close
measurements are to the true
value (does not mean the
“right/accurate” answer; it is an
accepted reference value)
 Data Collection
● Why the need to be accurate / precise ?
○ Accurate = valid
○ Precise = reliable
● How can you be more precise when collecting data?

○ Number of measurement trials or repeats or samples: must

be large enough

○ Maintain same conditions for each measurement - prevent

bias

● How can you be more accurate when collecting data?

○ Analyze and change the procedure or the equipment

 What Makes a Good Data Table?
The “rules”:
A good data table has...
1. An informative title, preceded by a table number

2. Clear and accurate headings for columns - with the name of the quantity and
appropriate SI units

3. Only numbers centered in the table cells - no units

4. The independent variable in the first column; subsequent columns show the results for
the dependent variable

5. The control (negative) set-up in the first row; subsequent rows show the various
experimental set-ups (consisting of different independent variable treatments)

6. Decimal places should be consistent throughout a column

7. Raw data table versus processed data table

 Clear and detailed title
Clear headings for columns: Consistent number of
● Quantity name decimal places in each
Numbered ● Unit column
Table 1: Mean stem length and growth rate of bean plants receiving
three different hormone treatments All numbers
Independent centered
variable is
always the first Mean stem Mean rate of
column (final
processed table)
Treatment Sample Size length stem growth
(mm) (mm/d)

Control 50 32.3 0.6

Control
set-up is
always the
first row Hormone 1 46 41.6 1.5

Hormone 2 98 38.4 0.8

 What’s Wrong with this Data Table?

Table 1. Results of experiment - raw data

Growth of Plants over Time (cm) + 0.1

Color of
Light Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7

Red 2.2 cm 2.5 cm 3.1 cm 3.4 cm 3.8 cm 4.5 cm 4.9 cm

Blue 2.15 2.4 2.90 3.5 4.00 4.7 5.1

Green 2.2 2.30 2.5 2.8 3.45 3.7 3.9

No light 2.1 2.1 2.1 - - - -

 Graphs
● A graph is a visual representation of data
presented in data tables.
→ to see patterns and trends more easily

● It is also a tool for data analysis.

 What Makes a Good Graph?
The “rules”: A good graph has…
1. An informative title, preceded by a graph or figure number
2. Clear and accurate labels for axes - with the appropriate SI
units
3. Independent variable on the x-axis
4. Dependent variable on the y-axis
5. Simple scale divisions - multiples of 1, 2, 5, 10
6. Uniform intervals
7. All data points correctly plotted
 Which Graph to Use?
To show relationship between two variables
(x-axis is continuous data)

SCATTER Plot
 SCATTER Plot
● Points are NOT connected
○ line of best fit is drawn
● Used to show relationship or
correlation between two data sets
● Beware: relationships are NOT
always linear; could be nonlinear
(e.g.exponential, logarithmic)
 Which Graph to Use?
To compare categories (i.e. non-continuous or
categorical x-axis variable)

BAR Graph
 BAR Graph
● Bars are drawn instead of points

● Used to show difference

between categories

● Can also show many data

groups