Lab

01

SCIENTIFIC DATA & GRAPHS

Define raw data.




What are the steps to organize raw data?






What can be done to help visualize data?




What is the purpose of lab 01 scientific
data and graphs?










Define average.






Define median.

LAB NOTES

INTRODUCTION:

RAW DATA:
Measurements collected during a scientific
experiment. Unorganized data, which doesnt
tell you much about themselves.

Steps to organize raw data:
Enter data into a data table so you can find the
information easily.
Summarize them in statistical terms (range,
mean, median, and std. Deviation) so it is
easier to compare and contrast later.

To help visualize data:
turn data tables into charts or graphs. Makes it
easier to spot trends or correlations in our data
if they exist.

PURPOSE
Introduction to data organization, data descriptions,
and data charts/ graph construction.

OBJECTIVES:
Organize data into tables and calculate
statistical descriptors of the data
Create graphs/ charts from given data sets
Analyze data and interpret trends from various
graphs.

VOCABULARY:

AVERAGE:
A number that is calculated by adding
quantities together and then dividing the total
by the number of quantities.
& (& (& ((&,
= ' ) *


MEDIAN:
The midpoint value in a sorted list of values
First rank all of the values in the data set from
min. to max.
for odd # values: the median = the value that
lies in the middle of the sorted list of values.

Lab 01





Define bar graph.



Define XY scatter plot.





Define independent variable.






Define dependent variable.






Define qualitative variable.




Define quantitative variable.




Define slope.

SCIENTIFIC DATA & GRAPHS

LAB NOTES

for even # values: the median = the average

of the two values that lie in the middle of the
sorted list of values.

BAR GRAPH:
A graph / chart that uses narrow columns of
different heights to show and compare
different amounts.

XY SCATTER PLOT:
A graph of plotted points that show the
relationship between 2 sets of data.

INDEPENDENT VARIABLE:
The variable in a functional relation whose
value is independent, not affected by other
variables.
The variable that is manipulated in an
experiment.

DEPENDENT VARIABLE:
The variable in a functional relation whose
value is dependent upon, or influenced by an
independent variable. A factor whose value
changes when the independent variable is
changed.

QUALITATIVE VARIABLE:
Categorical variables, are variables with no
natural sense of ordering. Are not much
numerical in nature.
Color, names, gender, etc.

QUANTITATIVE VARIABLE:
Variable that are measured on a numeric scale.
Numerical in nature
Ordinal, interval, ratio scales, height,
weight, length, etc.

SLOPE:
The ratio of the amount that Y increase as X
increases some amount.
3456
8
=
=

37&

Lab 01

SCIENTIFIC DATA & GRAPHS

Define outlier.






















Organize Dr. Lopezs data on Hercules
beetles body lengths into a data table. Your
table should include the following
headings: gender, body length (mm), and
horn length (mm).













Define range.

LAB NOTES

OUTLIER:
Something that is situated away from or
classed differently from a main or related
body, statistical observation that is noticeably
different in value from the others of the
sample.
EXERCISES:

Exercise A: Data Tables

Excerpts form Dr. Lopezs field research notes on
Hercules beetles (Dynastes herculues) in Mexico.


























Statistical Description of Data:

RANGE:

Lab 01

SCIENTIFIC DATA & GRAPHS

Define mean.




Define standard deviation.








What is the min. amount of variables
needed to do the standard deviation for a
data set?




Calculate the range, mean,
median and standard deviation
for body lengths for each date
of Dr. Lopezs data and organize
them into a data table.

LAB NOTES

The area covering the upper and lower limits

on a particular scale
= max min

MEAN (average):
A number expressing the typical value in a set
of data

=

#


STANDARD DEVIATION (Std. Dev.):
A measure of how variable the values in a data
set are.
=

= summation; x = the individual values in the

data set.

( )Q

(# 1)

Min. # of values to do std. Dev. Must be at

least 3.

Lab 01

SCIENTIFIC DATA & GRAPHS

Calculate the range, mean, median and
standard deviation for the horn lengths
among the male beetles.
















Why do we often turn data into charts or
graphs?












In am xy scatter plot what does the x-axis
represent?





In an xy scatter plot what does the y axis
represent?

LAB NOTES

Standard deviation:






EXERCISE B: DATA CHARTS / GRAPHS

Often turn data tables into charts or graphs to
quickly compare or contrast our results.












o x-axis (horizontal):
Displays the independent
variables, factors that you
believe to influence or
determine your experimental
results.
o Y-axis (vertical):
Displays the dependent
variables, the measurements
that you recorded in your
experiments.

Lab 01

SCIENTIFIC DATA & GRAPHS

What are the two most commonly used
charts/ graphs in science?






Generate a bar graph showing the mean
and median Hercules beetle body length
from Dr. Lopezs data. Be sure to include a
title, axis labels for both axes.
Generate a separate bar graph showing the
daily mean and median body lengths with
the dates being the independent variable.
Be sure to include a legend to clearly
indicate how the series are represented.




















What are the 3 essential parts of a chart/
graph?

LAB NOTES

The two most commonly used charts/ graph in

science:
Bar graphs:
For categorical variables
XY scatter plots:
For continuous variables.

Parts of Charts/ Graph:

Chart/ graph title:
Title should be descriptive but not
interpretative.
Tell the reader what the chart/ graph is
about.

Lab 01






















What is a positive trend?
















What is a negative trend?

SCIENTIFIC DATA & GRAPHS

LAB NOTES

Axis labels:
Axis labels tell your reader what the
independent and dependent variables are on
the chart/graph, as well as what is the unit of
measurement.

Legend:
Provide a legend on your graph when you have
more than one series.
Tells your readers which bar (on bar graphs) or
dots (on XY scatter plots) are representing
which group of data.

EXERCISE C: TREND SPOTTING

When interpreting data through charts/
graphs, we can often visually see a trend or
correlation between the independent and
dependent variables.

Positive trend: upward trend










o As the independent variable (x)
increases, the dependent variable (Y)
increases as well
o Has a positive slope

Negative trend: Downward trend

Lab 01

SCIENTIFIC DATA & GRAPHS

What does the slope of the trend line
imply?









Organize a data table from Dr. Lopezs data
on the male Hercules beetles. Calculate the
horn-to-body ratio. And graph body length
vs. Horn length and draw trend a trend line.
Graph body/length vs. Horn/body ratio and
draw a trend line.













What were the mean and median body
length of all Hercules beetles in Dr. Lopezs
study?

LAB NOTES

o As the independent variable (x)

increases, the dependent variable (y)
decreases.
o Has a negative slope.

The slope of the trend line, regardless of being
positive or negative, implies the strength of the
trend between the two variables.
o The steeper the slope, the stronger the
trend.
o If the trend line is flat or barely has a
slope, then there is no clear trend or
the trend is weak between the two
variables.

= 80.1
#

73.4 + 72.2
= 72.8
2

Lab 01

SCIENTIFIC DATA & GRAPHS

Did the daily means and medians for body
lengths differ significantly from one
another?

What were the mean and median horn
length of all the male Hercules Beetles in
Dr. Lopezs study?




What does the range & standard deviations
tell you about Dr. Lopezs data set?





Was there a trend between body length
and horn length amongst male beetles?
Was it strong/ weak? Positive/negative?
What kind of trend exists between body
lengths and horn-to-body ratio? Are the
trends the same?

LAB NOTES

Yes, they differed significantly, range fro daily mean = 6.4mm.
The range for daily medians = 15.1mm. These beetles are not
very large 1mm will make significant difference.


Mean = 40.6mm, Median = 39.8mm. The range for daily mean
= 21.1mm, and for median = 22.4mm. horn lengths are
significantly different from one another.



That there is a significant difference between body length and
horn lengths in Hercules beetles. Overall there is a large
deviation between the lengths among the beetles. The data is
spread out over a large range of values.



There is a weak, positive trend between horn length and body
length. There is a negative, strong trend between horn-tobody ratio and body length. The trend lines are opposite of
each other.