Graphing Nuts and Bolts

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. Define data and variable. Figure A.2
2. Distinguish between independent and dependent 40

After M. L. Cody and J. M. Diamond, eds.,

variables.

Ecology and Evolution of Communities.

Harvard University, Cambridge (1975).
3. Describe the following components of a graph:

Number of bird species

Dependent variable
30
x-axis, y-axis, title, caption, legend, future projection,
and measurement unit.

y-axis
20
n science, data simply refers to factual infor-

I mation. Note that because one piece of

factual information is called a “datum,” sci-
entists are grammatically correct when they
make statements such as “These temperature data are
10

important because.…” 0 0.4 0.8 1.2 1.6 2.0

A variable is a factor whose values can change. Many Structural complexity of vegetation
graphs illustrate the relationship between values of a x-axis
Independent variable
dependent variable and values of an independent variable.
As the names imply, the values of a dependent variable
Figure A.3 • Fertility changes in selected
are assumed to depend on the values of an indepen-
developing countries
dent variable. For example, the amount of energy used
worldwide (dependent variable) generally increases as Since the 1960s, fertility levels have dropped
dramatically in many developing countries. Title
the number of people on Earth (independent variable)
increases. To investigate complex interactions and test a Caption
8.0

Based on data from Population Reference Bureau.

series of competing hypotheses, scientists often examine
how the values of one independent variable may affect
the values of one or more other dependent variables. 6.0
For example, suppose an ecologist hypothesizes that
Total fertility rate

the complexity of plant communities directly affects the

number of bird species present in a given area. This ecolo- 4.0
gist could test this hypothesis by recording the number of
bird species in different areas and quantifying the complex-
ity of the vegetation in each of these areas. These data could 2.0
then be presented in a graph like the one in Figure A.2.
By convention, the independent variable is always pre-
sented on the horizontal or x-axis and the dependent vari-
able is always presented on the vertical or y-axis. Thus, in Brazil China Egypt India Mexico Nigeria
this case, the ecologist assumes that the number of bird spe-
1960–1965 2015
cies depends on the structural complexity of the vegetation. Legend
In addition to the x- and y-axes, it is important to rec-
ognize and understand the other components that are typi- legend that distinguishes and explains each of these data
cally used to construct scientific graphs. As illustrated in series. Reading a graph’s title, caption, and legend before
Figure A.3, most graphs start with a title, which succinctly examining its actual data will often help you better under-
describes the information they present. There is often a stand and interpret its purpose and results.
caption beneath this title that states the major implication Some graphs illustrate how the relationship between
of the data presented in the graph. Graphs that portray two variables may change in the future. These future
more than one series of data such as this one may use a projections are usually represented by a dashed line

Graphing Appendix 465

BM_Appendix_Graphing.indd 465 10/27/2016 9:16:00 PM