ISPS:

INTERPRETING
DATA

KDPM & KPLI

LECTURE NOTES
 EXERCISE 1
Read the following data. Construct a visual
representation that you think will communicate
the information best.

Our sun has a surface temperature of about 5538°C.

The innermost planet is Mercury. It has a surface
temperature of about 327°C. The next planet, Venus,
has a surface temperature of about 482°C. Our home
planet Earth is next. Its surface temperature is
about 14°C. Mars is the fourth planet and its surface
temperature is about -23°C. Jupiter comes after
Mars. Jupiter has a surface temperature of about
-151°C. Saturn is next with a surface temperature of
about -184°C. Uranus is after Saturn. Its surface
temperature is about -207°C. Next is Neptune whose
surface temperature is about -223°C. Pluto is the
outermost planet. It is so far away from the sun that
its surface temperature has not been measured but
it is estimated to be about -230°C.
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 SAMPLE VISUAL
REPRESENTATION

Planet’s Position from

Surface Temperature (°C)
Sun
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Which is better? Why?

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 INTRODUCTORY
INFORMATION
• The first step in interpreting data is
to decide what data you want to
gather. This comes from the
hypothesis you devise.
• It is important to organize data for
easy interpretation. Data tables and
charts are usually used. Graphs are
created from data tables to get a
visual image of the observations
which simplifies interpretation and
drawing conclusions.
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 INTRODUCTORY INFORMATION
• Two types of graph:
– Bar graph for descriptive/discrete data
(data from variables that will be
counted)
Eg. Brands of paper towels, types of wood,
gender, days of the week, etc
– Line graph for continous data (data
from variables investigated over time)
Eg. Volume of water, height of ladders, units
of clock time, mass of fruit etc.

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 PRESENTATION OBJECTIVES

You should be able to:

• Construct a table of data
• Construct a graph
• Interpreting a graph (relationship
between variables)

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 CONSTRUCTING A TABLE OF
DATA
COMMON CONVENTIONS:
• The MANIPULATED VARIABLE is
recorded in the LEFT column, the
RESPONDING VARIABLE is recorded in
the RIGHT column.
• When repeated trials are conducted,
the RV column is divided into smaller
column.DERIVED QUANTITY is recorded
in one or more columns to the right of
the RV column.
• UNITS are included in the column
heading.
• The levels of the MV are ordered,
usually from smallest to largest.
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 EXAMPLE OF TABLE OF DATA

TRIALS
1 2 3

COLUMN FOR
COLUMN FOR MV COLUMN FOR RV DERIVED QUANTITY

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 TABULATING DATA SKILLS CHECKLIST
• Does the title tell about the MV and the RV?
• Is the left column for the MV?
• Are the label and units given for the MV?
• Are the levels of the MV ordered?
• Is the right column for the RV?
• Are the label and units given for the RV?
• Is the RV column subdivided for repeated trials?
• Are the RV data correctly recorded?
• Are there additional columns for derived
quantities?
• Are the label and units given for the derived
quantities?
• Are the derived quantities correctly calculated?

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 CONSTRUCTING A GRAPH

PROCEDURE
• Draw a horizontal line (x-axis) and
a vertical line (y-axis)
• The MV is written on the x-axis.
The RV is written on the y-axis.
• Write the title of the graph.
• A graph title may take these form:
The Effect of the MV on the RV
How Does the MV affect the RV?

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 PROCEDURE (CONT)
• Determine interval scales for each
axis.STEPS
• Find the range of data (subtract
the smallest value from the 7
largest value) 12
22
• Divide the difference by the 37
46
number of interval you want (to 55
use/cover the entire graph area)
55 – 7 = 48
• Round up interval to an easy
counting number eg. 5, 10, 2, 4 48 ÷ 5 = 9.6
etc
9.6 ≈ 10
• Mark off intervals along the axis.
Begin with an interval that is
less than the smallest value to
be plotted and continue until
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
you have exceeded the largest
value to be plotted.
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 PROCEDURE (CONT)
• Plot data pairs as points on the
graph. The point is
represented as (x,y) or
(MV,RV).
• Connect the points or draw a
best-fit line.
• The rules are:
• The line should be a straight line or a
smooth curve.
• All points should lie either on the
line or very near to the line.
• There should be approximately equal
number of data points on either side
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 INTERPRETING A GRAPH
PROCEDURE
• Tell what happens to the RV as the
MV changes.
Eg: The temperature of water increases
as the length of time it is heated
increases
• For a curved line graph
– Describe the relationship in two
sentences.
– First describe the relationship until
the curve changes direction.
– A change in direction of a line
indicates a change in the
relationships between the variables
– Then tell what the relationship is for
the rest of the graph.
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 EXERCISE 2
Shown are several graphs with lines drawn
through data points. Decide whether it is a
best-fit line. If not, why?

• Too many data points on • Some points too far from line
one side
• Should be curved (U shaped)
• Should be curved
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 EXERCISE 2 (CONT.)

• Line is best-fit. Line • Too many data • Curve not smooth. A

seems to average points on one side. ‘J’ shaped smooth
the points. curve is best-fit.
• Curved line should
be lowered.

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 EXERCISE 3
Draw best-fit lines for these points.

1 2 3

4 5 6
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 SELF-CHECK EXERCISE 3

1 2 3

4 5 6
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 EXERCISE 4
Write a statement of relationship
between the variables for each graph.

The breaking point The number of letters

increases as the recognized decreases
diameter of the rope as the distance from
increases. the chart increases.

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 EXERCISE 4 (CONT.)
The average number of tomatoes
produced increased rapidly until
a temperature of 19°C was
reached. Above 19°C the average
number of tomatoes produced
declined rapidly.
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The temperature of water
steadily increases when heated
for 7 minutes. After that the
temperature stays about the
same even though heating
continues.
 EXERCISE 5
Description of an investigation and the data collected are
given below. Also given are a graph of the data, a best-fit
line, and a statement of the relationship between the
variables.
You are to describe whether each has been properly
prepared. If a section has not been correctly presented,
1 Number
check what part is wrong.
THE INVESTIGATION Y
932 of sea
ear
The sea otters in a otters
1 46
sheltered lagoon
940
were counted over a 42
number of years. 1
35
952
30
1
STATEMENT 26
962
The number of sea
otters in this location 1
has been steadily 972 SELF CHECK
decreasing since 1932 • Variables on wrong axis
• Statement is ok
• Line does not average points (all
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 EXERCISE 6
A description of an investigation and a table
of data are given here.
2. Construct a graph
3. Draw a best-fit line
4. Write a statement of the relationship
between the variables.
Size of Motor Average
THE INVESTIGATION
(horsepower Kilometers per
An investigation was carried ) Liter of Gasoline
out to determine the 47 7.0
relationship between the 100 5.0
size of a car motor and the 140 4.0
gasoline mileage. 193 3.5
227 3.0

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 ANSWER EXERCISE 6

The number of kilometers per liter of

gasoline decreases as the size of the motor
increases. However, the decrease is slower
for motors above 120 horsepower.

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 GRAPHING SKILLS CHECKLIST
• Does the title communicate the MV and
RV?
• Is the MV on the x-axis?
• Are the labels/units given for the MV?
• Is the scale on the x-axis appropriate to
represent the values of the MV?
• Is the RV on the y-axis?
• Are the labels/units given for the RV?
• Is the scale on the y-axis appropriate to
represent the values of the RV?
• Are the data correctly plotted?
• Is the line-of-best-fit appropriate?
• Is the graph done neatly?
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