Collecting & Analyzing Results
Once enough data has been collected, you are ready to organize, represent and make sense of the data. Here are some things to consider as you prepare to share the data with others:
- How will you represent the data? In other words, what do you want others to see and understand?
- How do I choose which type of graph to use? Bar graph, line graph, something else?
- How should I summarize the data? What statistical measures (mean, median, mode) or other calculations (percent change) would be useful in analyzing the data?
The way you represent data and the analysis you do depends upon your question. The way data is represented and analyzed should answer your question.
Resources:
How Do I Choose Which Type of Graph to Use
Bar Graphs, Pie Charts, and Line Graphs: How are they similar and how are they different?
Science Buddies: Data Analysis and Graphs
Science Buddies: Summarizing Your Data - Measures of Central Tendency and Measures of Dispersion
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