Data Tables &
Graphing
What is a data table?
• A data table is
an organized
arrangement of
information in
labeled rows &
columns.
Column Column
1
2
Row 1
Row 2
Why do we use data tables?
• In science, we use them to record
observations.
• They help us interpret
information collected in an
experiment.
Parts of a Data Table
• Title: number, underlined, describes
what the data is about.
• Table #1 Effects of Fertilizer on
Plant Growth
• Box: rows & columns
• Headings: above columns or to the
left of rows; describes data
Data Table Practice # 1
• Use a RULER!!!
• For two minutes open and close
your right hand as fast as you can.
Have a partner record the amount
of closures every 30 seconds until
the 2 minutes are up. Repeat for
your left hand. (Before you begin,
set up your table)
Table #1 Hand Closures Over
Time
Time
(s)
0
30
60
90
120
Number of Hand
Closures
Data Table Practice #2
• Record the hair colors by sex of
your classmates using black,
brown, blonde and red as
headings.
Table #2 Hair Color by Sex
Hair
Color
Black
Brown
Blonde
Red
Number of Students
Male
Female
Data Table Practice #3
• Record the amount of kids
wearing tennis shoes, sandals, &
boots in your class.
Table #3 Student Shoe Types in
Ms. McNease’s Class
Shoe Type
Tennis shoes
Sandals
Boots
Number of Students
Wearing
What is a graph?
• A graph is a pictorial representation
of the relationship between two
quantities.
– Independent variable
(manipulated)
• Controlled by experimentor
– Dependent variable (responding)
• Something we observe as the
result of the experiment
Graph Types
• Bar graphs
• Line graphs
• Circle Graphs
Bar Graphs
• A bar graph is a
diagram in
which data
about separate
but related items
are compared.
• Place the
categories on the
horizontal axis.
• Place the
measurements
on the vertical
axis.
Ball Masses
700
600
500
650
400
Mass (g)
300
200
425
280
198.4
155.9
100
58.5
0
Volleyball
Tennis ball
Baseball
Football
Type of Ball
Basketball
Softball
Line Graphs
Greenhouse Temperatures
Temperature (degrees C)
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Time (h)
• Remember “DRY
MIX”
• Dependent or
Responding
variable is plotted
on the Y-axis.
• Manipulated or
Independent
variable is plotted
on the X-axis.
Circle Graphs
• A circle
graph
shows
data as
parts of
a
whole.
Rose Garden
White
18%
Red
46%
Pink
36%
Graphing Rules
• Use GRAPH PAPER!!!!!
• Title: number (Graph #1), underlined,
describes what data is about.
• Draw x-axis horizontally, and y-axis
vertically.
• Label the x-axis with the independent
variable heading and the y-axis with
the dependent variable heading.
Graphing Practice
• Identify the variables as
independent & dependent
variables.
Examples
• The world population per year
– I=year
– D=population
• Temperature & breathing rate in
fish
– I=temperature
– D=breathing rate
Examples
• Height of plants per day
– I=day
– D=height
• The number of minutes animals can
hold their breath
– I=type of animal
– D=number of minutes
Examples
• The amount of rain in different
environments
– I=environment
– D=amount of rain
• The amount of body fat in different age
groups
– I=age group
– D=amount of body fat
Examples
• The grade you make vs. the minutes you
study
– I=minutes you study
– D=grade you make
• Heart rate & breathing rate at various
temperatures
– I=temperature
– D=heart rate & breathing rate
The End