STEMskiller: Skill Set Map for Mentors of Early Career Researchers

RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP: Academic reading and writing

[Preparing to write]

Reading and interpreting graphs, plots, & statistical data

Definition:

Graphs are often used in science to present/represent data. Mentees should be able to critically read and interpret graphical representations of data and be able to understand problematic, misleading graphing practices such as scale distortions (logarithmic scale, multiplying the effect in 2D, choosing a selected “slice” or perspective) or data selection distortions.

Useful resources on Reading and interpreting graphs, plots, statistical data:

Inigo, M., Jameson, J., Kozak, K., Lanzetta, M., & Sonier, K. (2020). College Mathematics in Everyday Life. https://math.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Applied_Mathematics/Book%3A_College_
Mathematics_for_Everyday_Life_(Inigo_et_al) 

Includes guidelines for conducting a statistical study as well as steps for determining whether a study is believable or not with questions to ask, examples—including for misleading graphs.

Kaslik, P. (2020). Foundations in Statistical Reasoning: 3: Examining the Evidence using Graphs and Statistics. https://stats.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_Statistics/Book%3A_Foundations_in_Statistical
_Reasoning_(Kaslik)/03%3A_Examining_the_Evidence_using_Graphs_and_Statistics

Discusses types of data, examining the evidence with sample data; examining the evidence provided by sample categorical data; proportions and pie charts; examining the evidence provided by sample quantitative data; arithmetic mean, variance, and standard deviation; and scatter plots and correlation. 

Khan Academy. (2020). Statistics & Probability: Interpreting Categorical and Quantitative Data. https://www.khanacademy.org/commoncore/grade-HSS-S-ID#HSS-ID.A.1

Learning areas include: Comparing data distributions, standard deviation of a population, comparing data distributions, normal distribution: area between two points, empirical rule, normal distribution: area above or below a point, calculating z-scores, trends in categorical data, fitting quadratic and exponential functions to scatter plots, correlation coefficient intuition, and types of statistical studies.

Tags: IPS IA; IPS QL; IPS PS; IAL IntL; CompQ, CompTS

Peer Review: None

Table of contents:

1.2. Academic reading and writing


1.2.1. Preparing to write


1.2.1.1. Searching the literature
1.2.1.2. Analysis and synthesis
1.2.1.3. Critical reading
1.2.1.4. Critical thinking
1.2.1.5. Evaluating use and misuse of scientific information


1.2.1.6. Reading and interpreting graphs, plots, statistical data
1.2.1.7. Organizing a writing project
1.2.1.8. Citing correctly and reference/citation management tools
1.2.1.9. Copyright: definition, why considered important/or not important, things to consider


1.2.2. Writing specifics for different academic formats


1.2.3. Grant proposals


1.2.4. Corresponding with others

Author: Stephanie Krueger

Peer Reviewer(s): None

Last Updated: October 22, 2021