|
Guidelines
The Biology teachers of Tasmania put the following guide together to help students analyse, interpret and evaluate information and data gained from investigations.
- Read information given carefully, highlighting any key words/phrases.
Study graphs or tables and try to see any relationships in the data.
- When analysing numerical data quote figures in your answer.
Look for the control and compare other values with it.
- When evaluating methods, check that all aspects for experimental design have been satisfied.
- If the experiment has been done in an artificial environment? e.g. in the lab rather than in the normal environment, will this affect the interpretation of the data?
- If the experiment involves sampling from a population, has the sampling been carried out scientifically?
i.e.
- is it random, to eliminate bias?
- is the sample controlled with respect to age, sex, health etc
- is the sample large enough to allow meaningful conclusions to be drawn?
- Do the results imply a CORRELATIONAL or a CAUSATIVE relationship? Consider why it is difficult to demonstrate causative relationships from studies on humans.
- When criticising conclusions consider whether the conclusion is specific to the experiment, or have unjustified generalisations been made?
|
Data Analysis
Drawings
Tabulating info
Graphing
Line graphs
Column graphs
Histograms
Scatter graphs
Two+
variables
Summary
Analysis of Data
Trends
on a graph
Guidelines from BIOTA
Report Writing
Working Scientifically
Observations
Observation Questions
Hypothesis Formation
Experimental Design
Aspects
Ethics
Types of Research
Data Analysis |
