WRITING FIGURES, WRITING FIGURES, GRAPHS AND TABLESGRAPHS AND TABLES

A POWER POINT A POWER POINT PRESENTATION FOR ENGLISH PRESENTATION FOR ENGLISH

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GRAPHSGRAPHS

diagram that shows relationships diagram that shows relationships between numbers. between numbers.

arrange numerical information into a arrange numerical information into a picture from which it is often possible picture from which it is often possible to see overall patterns or trends in the to see overall patterns or trends in the information.information.

STRUCTURESTRUCTURE

any graph used to report findings any graph used to report findings should show:should show:

significant features and findings of the significant features and findings of the investigation in an a fair and easily investigation in an a fair and easily read way.read way.

underlying structure of an underlying structure of an investigation in terms of the investigation in terms of the relationships between variables.relationships between variables.

units of measurementunits of measurement number of readingsnumber of readings range and interval of readingsrange and interval of readings

RULES FOR GRAPHSRULES FOR GRAPHS If your reader is supposed to compare If your reader is supposed to compare

multiple plots, put them in the same graph. multiple plots, put them in the same graph. If the result is too cluttered use different If the result is too cluttered use different graph, at least keep the scales consistent graph, at least keep the scales consistent so they can be easily compared.so they can be easily compared.

Use different shape and line types to Use different shape and line types to distinguish multiple plots on the same distinguish multiple plots on the same graph. Color will be lost if IT is reproduce in graph. Color will be lost if IT is reproduce in black and white.black and white.

don’t connect the dots.don’t connect the dots. Draw curves with the straight edge, Draw curves with the straight edge,

spline, or french curve or fiet and spline, or french curve or fiet and equation to the data.equation to the data.

Use symbols, not dots for your data.Use symbols, not dots for your data. Include errors bars.Include errors bars. When using spread sheets for plots, select When using spread sheets for plots, select

scatter or X-Y plots, not line plots.Make scatter or X-Y plots, not line plots.Make legend meaningful.legend meaningful.

Label the axes with descriptive words Label the axes with descriptive words and units.and units.

Spread out data y appropriate axis Spread out data y appropriate axis scaling. axis need not start at 0 unless scaling. axis need not start at 0 unless it is important . appropriate labels it is important . appropriate labels such as, multiple 1, 2, or 10.such as, multiple 1, 2, or 10.

Minor division of axis should be Minor division of axis should be appropriate.appropriate.

Use scientific notation with units when Use scientific notation with units when appropriate . Be careful about the sign appropriate . Be careful about the sign on the exponent. use as few digits as on the exponent. use as few digits as possible. The precision of the reading possible. The precision of the reading depends on the graph division, not the depends on the graph division, not the number of trailing 0.number of trailing 0.

EXAMPLEEXAMPLE

Bar graphsBar graphs Line graphsLine graphs Pie graphsPie graphs HistogramsHistograms

BAR GRAPHSBAR GRAPHS

way of displaying statistical data using way of displaying statistical data using horizontal or vertical bars. The heights horizontal or vertical bars. The heights or lengths of the bars are proportional or lengths of the bars are proportional to the quantities they represent.to the quantities they represent.

should be used for categorical, should be used for categorical, ordered, and discrete variables.ordered, and discrete variables.

EXAMPLEEXAMPLE

LINE GRAPHSLINE GRAPHS

Line graphs compare two variables. Line graphs compare two variables. Each variable is plotted along an Each variable is plotted along an axis axis . . A line graph has a vertical axis and a A line graph has a vertical axis and a horizontal axis. So, for example, if you horizontal axis. So, for example, if you wanted to graph the height of a ball wanted to graph the height of a ball after you have thrown it, you could put after you have thrown it, you could put time along the horizontal, or x-axis, time along the horizontal, or x-axis, and height along the vertical, or y-and height along the vertical, or y-axis.axis.

As I mentioned before, each type of As I mentioned before, each type of graph has characteristics that make it graph has characteristics that make it useful in certain situations. useful in certain situations.

They are good at showing specific They are good at showing specific values of data, meaning that given values of data, meaning that given one variable the other can easily be one variable the other can easily be determined. determined.

They show trends in data clearly, They show trends in data clearly, meaning that they visibly show how meaning that they visibly show how one variable is affected by the other as one variable is affected by the other as it increases or decreases. it increases or decreases.

They enable the viewer to make They enable the viewer to make predictions about the results of data predictions about the results of data not yet recorded. not yet recorded.

EXAMPLEEXAMPLE

PIE GRAPHSPIE GRAPHS

Circle or pie graphs are particularly Circle or pie graphs are particularly good illustrations when considering good illustrations when considering how many parts of a whole are how many parts of a whole are inception. The pie chart is then divided inception. The pie chart is then divided very much as a baker's pie would be very much as a baker's pie would be into slices that represent the into slices that represent the proportional amounts of time spent on proportional amounts of time spent on each activity.each activity.

EXAMPLEEXAMPLE

HISTOGRAMSHISTOGRAMS

A histogram can be constructed by A histogram can be constructed by segmenting the range of the data into segmenting the range of the data into equal sized bins (also called segments, equal sized bins (also called segments, groups or classes). For example, if groups or classes). For example, if your data ranges from 1.1 to 1.8, you your data ranges from 1.1 to 1.8, you could have equal bins of 0.1 consisting could have equal bins of 0.1 consisting of 1 to 1.1, 1.2 to 1.3, 1.3 to 1.4, and of 1 to 1.1, 1.2 to 1.3, 1.3 to 1.4, and so on.so on.

EXAMPLEEXAMPLE

LIMITATIONSLIMITATIONS

Graphs can tell you a lot about the Graphs can tell you a lot about the design of an investigation, but they don't design of an investigation, but they don't tell you everything. For example, they tell you everything. For example, they don't usually tell you which variables don't usually tell you which variables were controlled, the sample size, or the were controlled, the sample size, or the method of measurement. So there are method of measurement. So there are lots of questions to ask to find out about lots of questions to ask to find out about validity and reliability, and also about validity and reliability, and also about the actual context of the investigation. the actual context of the investigation.

The scales on the axes can be The scales on the axes can be stretched or shrunk to emphasise one stretched or shrunk to emphasise one side of a relationship or to make a side of a relationship or to make a point that may not be justified by the point that may not be justified by the data. data.

A graph implies a relationship but not A graph implies a relationship but not necessarily a causenecessarily a cause

FIGURES&TABLESFIGURES&TABLES

A table is sometimes called a charA table is sometimes called a chartt. . This is a correct use, but can confuse This is a correct use, but can confuse students. students.

PURPOSEPURPOSE

Tables areTables are an organiser for an investigation an organiser for an investigation a way of presenting data in a report a way of presenting data in a report an organiser to assist comprehension an organiser to assist comprehension

and thinking. and thinking. For investigations with no numerical For investigations with no numerical

data it is usually better to use a table data it is usually better to use a table to present the data.to present the data.

LIMITATIONSLIMITATIONS

It can be difficult to see numerical It can be difficult to see numerical relationships and patterns. A graph relationships and patterns. A graph may make these clearer. may make these clearer.

When clumping information into When clumping information into bands, there is no indication of how bands, there is no indication of how many are in each category. many are in each category.

SUBMITTED BY:SUBMITTED BY:

DINGAL, CHARISSA KRISTINE DINGAL, CHARISSA KRISTINE B.B.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSINGNURSING