Unit 1: Scientific Inquiry
Name: ___________________________________
Aim #5: How do we organize experimental data into data tables and graphs?
Date: _____________________
A) Data Collection: Making measurements and carefully recording data are important parts of an experiment
The _______________________ of trials or tests completed during experiment.
What is Data?
How is data organized?
Why is data important?
Allows scientist to logically make ____________________________ and _____________________________
based on their data
B) Data Tables: A data table is an important initial stage in making sense of the information you will collect during an experiment.
Data Table Checklist
 1) Title the table:
“The effect of ___________________________________ on
_______________________________________________”
 2) Headings:


Independent variable [LEFT column]
Dependent variable [RIGHT column(s)]
 3) Units:

In column headings (s, cm, mm, degrees, etc.)
Directions: Answer the following questions using the information below and your knowledge of Biology
1)
2) Identify the independent variable:
Identify the dependent variable:
3) At the end of the experiment, the student stated that if plants are exposed to more hours of daylight, they
would always produce a greater percentage of flowers. Is this a valid conclusion? Support your answer. [1]
C) Graphing: After collecting and organizing data into a data table, the results can now be graphed. This allows scientists to examine
____________________ or _________________________ in the data.
Identify the:

Independent Variable:

Dependent Variable:
Y Axis
D
E
P
E
N
D
E
N
T
X Axis
INDEPENDENT
 1) Title the graph:

Use the title that is given on your data table

If there is no title given, use the phrase
“The effect of (independent variable)
on (dependent variable)”
 2) Label the axes with a title and units:

The DEPENDENT VARIABLE
is labeled on the Y AXIS (left side)

The INDEPENDENT VARIABLE
is labeled on the X AXIS (bottom)

Be sure to include units on each axis
(mm, s, cm, ml etc.)
 3) Create a numbered scale for the X & Y axis:

The X and Y axes DO NOT have to have the same scale as each other! But, each scale should increase
by a uniform increment (count by 1’s, 2’s, 5’s, 10’s etc.) without any breaks!!!

Look at each column of the data table and determine your highest and lowest values:
o
o
o

What is the biggest number you need to go up for the x axis? What about the y axis?
What is the lowest number you need to begin with for the x axis? What about he y axis?
How many boxes do I need to fit these numbers?
You must use as MUCH of the graph as possible (at least ¾ of the graph!)
 DO NOT just place the numbers from the data table on the axes.

Your points DO NOT have to be on a line. Sometimes you have to estimate where the points
will fall in between the lines
Scaling Practice
1) Each of the scales below has a few missing values. Fill in the appropriate missing values based on the scale used.
2) Each of the scales below has no values on it. Use the data tables on the right to create a numbered axis.
 4) Plot the points from the data table:

Plot the data from the data table on the graph to create a line graph

Neatly define your points by surrounding each point with the shape they tell you in the question
(circle, triangle etc.)

Connect the data points
Directions: Complete the graph below by following the graphing checklist
 1) Title
 2) Label the X & Y axis
 3) Scale the X & Y axis (numbers)
 4) Plot, circle and connect data points
 5) Determining the Relationship: Use this statement to state the relationship between two variables
*As the (x axis, independent variable) increases/decreases, the (y axis, dependent variable) increases/decreases*
Using the graph from above, state the relationship between the number of fish species found and water depth: