Analyzing, Interpreting, and Reporting Data

Observations can be qualitative or quantitative. Qualitative observations describe properties or occurrences in ways that do not rely on numbers. Examples of qualitative observations include the following: the outside air temperature is cooler during the winter season, table salt is a crystalline solid, sulfur crystals are yellow, and dissolving a penny in dilute nitric acid forms a blue solution and a brown gas. Quantitative observations are measurements, which by definition consist of both a number and a unit. Examples of quantitative observations include the following: the melting point of crystalline sulfur is 115.21 degrees Celsius, and 35.9 grams of table salt—whose chemical name is sodium chloride—dissolves in 100 grams of water at 20 degrees Celsius.

After collecting data, what is the best way to display the results so that you can easily analyze and look for trends? When looking at a large amount of data, it is difficult to analyze and see trends in simply a list of numbers. By graphing the data, one can see trends and make better sense of the data. It is important to know what type of graph to use to display varying information.

Watch the video below for a quick review of 5 different types of graphs that can be used to display data.

In summary, the five types of graphs and when to use each are as follows:

Line Graphs are used to display changes over time.
Scatter Plots are used to show a correlation of variables.
Bar Graphs are used to compare groups.
Histograms are used to show the distribution of data.
Pie Charts are used to show the parts of a whole.

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