Name: ________________________________________________ Period: ______ Date: ______________

PreAP Analyzing and Interpreting Scientific Data

During scientific investigations, scientists gather data and present it in the form of charts, tables or graphs.
The data must be properly collected, analyzed, and interpreted to allow scientists to make informed
decisions regarding the validity of their study and any further work that may be necessary to achieve their
objectives. The ability to present and use data charts, tables, and graphs correctly is essential for good
scientific practice and also prevents unnecessary or inappropriate work and misinterpretation of the data.

1. According to the data in Model 1, how many females fall within the range 146–155 cm tall? ____
2. According to the data in Model 1, how many males are 181 cm or above in height? _________
3. Using the graph(s) in Model 1, determine the approximate average height of males and of females.
______________________________________________________
4. Refer to the data in Model 1.
a. How many males are taller than 175 cm? ___________________________
b. Which graph(s)/chart(s) illustrate the answer to the previous question? ____________
c. Approximately, what percentage of the students are males taller than 175 cm? ________
d. Which graph(s)/chart(s) illustrate the answer to the previous question? ____________
5. Which type of graph or chart in Model 1 shows a side by side comparison of data? _________
6. Which type of graph or chart in Model 1 shows trends in data across an entire data set? _______
7. Describe two trends in male and female height using the line graph.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
8. Use complete sentences to compare the presentation of height data in the three graphs. Discuss any
information that is located on more than one graph, and any unique information that is available on
each.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
9. If you wanted to see if a correlation exists between the height of an individual and his/her hand
length, what would be the best type of graph/chart to make? Explain your reasoning.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
10. What conclusions can you draw comparing the height, hand length, and knuckle width of males and
females? State your conclusions in complete sentences.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
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Guidelines for Bar Graphs
Bar graphs are appropriate for data that are non-
numerical and discrete for at least one variable, i.e.
they are grouped into separate categories. There are
no dependent or independent variables. Important
features of this type of graph include:
 Data are collected for discontinuous, non-
numerical categories (e.g. place, color, and
species), so the bars do not touch.
 Data values may be entered on or above the
bars if you wish.
 Multiple sets of data can be displayed side
by side for direct comparison (e.g. males and
females in the same age group).
 Axes may be reversed so that the categories
are on the x axis, i.e. the bars can be vertical or horizontal.

Guidelines for Histograms

Histograms are plots of continuous data and are
often used to represent frequency distributions,
where the y-axis shows the number of times a
particular measurement or value was obtained. For
this reason, they are often called frequency
histograms. Important features of this type of
graph include:
 The data are numerical and continuous
(e.g. height or weight), so the bars touch.
  The x-axis usually records the class interval. The y-axis usually records the number of individuals in
each class interval
Guidelines for Pie Graphs
Pie graphs can be used instead of bar graphs, generally in
cases where there are six or fewer categories involved. A pie
graph provides strong visual impact of the relative
proportions in each category, particularly where one of the
categories is very dominant. Features of pie graphs include:
 The data for one variable are discontinuous (non-
numerical or categories).
 The data for the dependent variable are usually in the
form of counts, proportions, or percentages.
 Pie graphs are good for visual impact and showing
relative proportions.
 They are not suitable for data sets with a large
number of categories.

Guidelines for Line Graphs

Line graphs are used when one variable (the
independent variable) affects another, the dependent
variable.
Important features of line graphs include:
 The data must be continuous for both variables.
 The dependent variable is usually the biological
response.
 The independent variable is often time or the
experimental treatment.
 In cases where there is an implied trend (e.g.
one variable increases with the other), a line of
best fit is usually plotted through the data points
to show the relationship.
 If fluctuations in the data are likely to be important (e.g. with climate and other environmental data)
the data points are usually connected directly (point to point).

11. For each of the following experiments, choose bar graph, histogram, line graph, or pie chart as the
most appropriate way to display the data. Justify your answer.
a. Students heated oil on a hot plate at the #4 setting for different amounts of time. They wanted
to answer the question “How long do you need to heat an oil bath to reach a given
temperature?” ____________________
b. Students measured the height of each student in class. They wanted to answer the question
“What is the most common height among 10th grade students?” _______________

c. The Fish and Wildlife agency measured the size of Pacific salmon for 1 year and recorded
the average weight for each species. ____________________

d. Scientist observed the feeding pattern of ferrets and found out the percentages of each of
different food items in their diet. ____________________

Food item %
Birds 23.6
Crickets 15.3
Other insects (not crickets) 15.3
Voles 9.2
Rabbits 8.3
Rats 6.1
Mice 13.9
Fruits and seeds 8.3
12. Choose one of the data sets in Question 11 that you selected as appropriate for a line graph and
graph it here. Look back at Presenting Data in Graph Format to help you.

13. Choose one of the data sets in Question 11 that you selected as appropriate for a bar graph and
graph it here. Look back at Presenting Data in Graph Format to help you.
Plotting Multiple Data Sets
A single figure can be used to show two or more
data sets, i.e. more than one curve can be plotted
per set of axes. This type of presentation is
useful when you want to visually compare the
trends for two or more treatments, or the
response of one species against the response of
another. Important points regarding this format
are:
 If the two data sets use the same
measurement units and a similar range of
values for the independent variable, one
scale on the y axis is used.
 If the two data sets use different units
and/or have a very different range of
values for the independent variable, two
scales for the y axis are used (see
example provided). The scales can be adjusted if
necessary to avoid overlapping plots. Field data notebook
 The two curves must be distinguished with a key. Results of a population
survey on an island
14. A census of a deer population on an island indicated a Time Wolf Deer
population of 2000 animals in 1960. In 1961, ten wolves (yr) number number
(natural predators of deer) were brought to the island in an s s
attempt to control deer numbers. Over the next nine years, 1961 10 2000
the numbers of deer and wolves were monitored. The 1962 12 2300
results of these population surveys are presented in the 1963 16 2500
table, right. 1964 22 2360
a. Plot a line graph (joining the data points) for the 1965 28 2244
tabulated results. Use one scale (on the left Y axis) 1966 24 2094
for numbers of deer and another scale (on the right 1967 21 1968
Y axis) for the number of wolves. Use different 1968 18 1916
symbols or colors to distinguish the lines and 1969 19 1952
include a key.