Presentation of data

• When are bar charts used?

  Used when data is divided into different categories – this is called discrete data. Discrete means “separate” or “distinct”
• What must bar charts include?

  • Gaps between each bar
  • Labels on both axes
  • A title
• When are histograms used?

  Used when data is continuous. This means the data is on a continuum, and anyone can fit anywhere on the continuum. Examples of continuous data are temperature, time and weight. 
• What must histograms include?

  • Bars that touch (because they are related to each other)
  • Labels on both axes (the Y axis is always frequency)
  • A title
• What are correlations?

  Correlations tell you about the strength and direction of a relationship between two variables. They are displayed using a scatter graph.
• What must scatter graphs have?

  • Each axis is a variable
  • Each dot is one measurement (usually one person in psychological research)
  • Labels on both axes
  • A title that starts with  “The relationship between…”
• What are the three types of correlation?

  • Positive
  • Negative
  • No correlation