Data Interpretation and Graphs

The Display Display the data you collect with tables and graphs. Include these in both your Project Binder and on your tri-fold poster. Our example experiment compared the growth rate of plants depending on the amount of water they received. Record the data as you collect it during the experiment in your Project Journal. Later, this information would be transferred into the Project Binder and kept with your display. Photographs, videos and drawings should be part of the data collected. Consult your mathematics teacher along with your science teacher/ mentor about the set- up of data tables, graphing and statistical analysis.

Example Experiment In our example experiment you would measure the height of the plants at regular intervals. You would calculate the average height of the plants for each experimental group. The average is also called the MEAN. Using average height will account for any OUTLIERS. This is data which falls outside the normal range of data in the experiment. To calculate the average (MEAN); 1. Measure the height of each plant 2. Add these numbers 3. Divide the total by the total number of plants measured in each group 4. The answer is the average (MEAN) height of the plants for that group. Example:Height of plant (cm) /5= 13 cm (average height)

Example of Data Table Day/Date Average Height of Plants (cm) Group A Group B Group C Group D

Graphing There are different types of graphs: scatter plots, line graphs, pie charts, bar graphs, histograms, etc. Talk to your mathematics teacher and your science teacher/ mentor to select the type of graph for your science project. For our example experiment a LINE GRAPH is a good way to display the data. The LINE GRAPH lets you display the growth rate for each experimental group over the duration of the experiment. Put the independent variable on the x-axis. Put the dependent variable on the y-axis.

Example Line Graph

Analysis You need to draw conclusions from the data you collect. This Analysis is also called the Results and Conclusions. The Analysis is an explanation of what you observed compared to what was expected. It also needs to draw from information you learned during your project research. It is written in a paragraph format and is one of the last sections in your Project Binder. It will also be part of the project display.