Name

Planning Sheet: Data Analysis/Results

Consider Outliers
List any values you consider to be outliers and why they will be omitted from the central
tendency:

Manipulated Variable:
List your MV:

List the levels, or values, of your MV:

Which level of your MV was the control?

Was it a no treatment control, or an experimenter selected control?

Responding Variable(s):

What did you measure during your experiment?

How many responding variables did you have?

List the responding variables and which measure of central tendency and variation you
should use when analyzing your data. Use the chart and example below to help you.
Responding Variables Central Tendency Variation

Type of Data Central Tendency Variation

Quantitative Mean Range
Standard Deviation
Qualitative (ordinal) Median Frequency Distribution
Qualitative (nominal) Mode Frequency Distribution

Example:
Height of plant (cm) mean range and standard deviation
Color of leaves mode frequency distribution

1
Think back to the beginning of the school year and our experiment with magnet
strength:

Write the formula to calculate uncertainty:

Write the formula to find the “true value”:

Now, calculate the best value and uncertainty for your data. Sketch your “true
values” below on a number line.

If your collected data is qualitative (ex: survey data, leaf color, or sweatiness) create
a frequency distribution.

2
Step Draft of Response

1. Write a topic sentence stating the

manipulated and responding
variables and a reference to tables
and graphs (give each table and
graph a number, for example
“Figure 1”, “Table 1”, or “Graph 1”

2. Write sentences describing and

comparing the measures of central
tendency for all levels, or values, of
your manipulated variable. Identify
the control, and compare the data
from the control to the other levels,
or values, of your MV.

3. Write sentences describing and

comparing the indicated variation
of the data within the groups.
Clearly discuss any overlap when
factoring variation into the “true
value” and how that affects your
results.

3
 4. Share observations or other details
about your data. What did you
notice? What outliers were
excluded and why?

You can also include pictures in your

document, and call them “Figure A, Picture
1, etc.” You can describe general
observations, like plants wilting, and refer
your reader to look at the picture.

5. Write sentences stating how the

data supports or refutes the
hypothesis. Use numbers from your
data to support your answer.