Ave Maria College

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

School ID No. 402686 Gov’t Permit No. 0059 s. 2015

LESSON 1: PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS, AND INTERPRETATIN OF DATA COLLECTED

A. Data Processing, Organizing and Analysis

This part presents the elements and concepts of presenting analyzing and interpreting data to answer the
specific problems posted in the chapter one of the study. It is usually labeled a PRESENTATION,
ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA.

B. Presentation of Data

This part presents the data gathered and the information obtained. Begin your results section with a
general statement that means something to the reader. Then, as necessary, support this statement with
appropriate figures.

The narrative portion of the section should stand on its own tables, charts and other illustrations should
only verify or elaborate points made in the text. Tell the results in words, augmented with as few
numbers as possible, and refer the interested reader to the more detailed presentation in the tables and
charts.

If you choose to present your results by writing “the results are summarized in Table 1”, you should
guide your reader through the table. Highlight the trend, range of values and other interesting aspects.
Do not leave the reader to sort out the figures and decide what they mean.

C. Preparing Graphs, Tables, Figures

When preparing the graph, table, or figure, you should consider the following points:
 Number the table/figure/graph and provide a title
 Table headings: Keep brief and separate from other parts of text with solid line
 Body: Be selective in what you present and don’t be redundant. Present information in its most
meaningful and appropriate form.
 Legend: They key to symbols place within the figure.
 Captions: A concise explanation of the figure/graph can be placed below the body
 Entire table excluding heading is enclosed by solid horizontal lines
D. Data Presentation Tools

Descriptive Statistics enable us to understand data through summary values and geographical
presentations. It is important to look at summary statistics along with the data set to understand the
entire picture, as the same summary statistics may be described very different data sets. Descriptive
statistics can be illustrated in an understandable fashion by presenting them graphically using statistical
and data presentation tools.

E. Tabular Presentation of Data

Tables display number or words arranged in a grid. Tabular method can be used to represent data sets
with two variables. They are good for situations where exact number need to be presented. A tabular
presentation is illustrated in Table 1.

Table 1
Profile of the Respondents in Terms of Age and Gender

Male Female
Age Bracket
F % F %
21-25 9 8.18 4 3.64
26-30 8 7.27 14 12.73
31-35 7 6.36 6 5.54
36-40 6 5.54 7 6.36
41-45 9 8.18 22 20.00
46-50 5 4.55 8 7.27
51- Above 2 1.82 3 2.73
Total 46 41.82 64 58.18

F. Graphical Presentation of Data

Several types of statistical/data presentation tools exist, including: a) charts displaying frequencies (bar,
pie charts) chart displaying trends (run and line charts), c) charts displaying distributions (histograms),
and d) charts displaying associations (scatter diagrams).

Different types of data require different kinds of statistical tools. There are two types of data. Attribute
data are countable data or data that can be put into categories: examples like the number or people
wiling to pay, the number of complaints, percentage who want blue/percentage who want red/
percentage who want yellow. Variable data are measurement data, based on some continuous scale
(length time, cost)

Bar Graph (Histogram). Bar graphs show quantities represented by horizontal or vertical bars and are
useful for displaying.
 The activity for one thing through time
  Several categories of results at once
 Data sets with few observations

Standard deviation may be displayed on bar graphs by using a deviation bar which extends beyond the
top of the data bar. Divided bar graphs are a variation that, similar to pie charts, show proportional
relationships between data within each bar. In addition, divided bar graphs can show changes over time

Bar Graph Example

G. Steps in the Preparation of Bar Graph

Step 1: Choose the type of bar chart that stresses the results to be focused on. Grouped and stacked bar
charts will require at least two classification variables. For a stacked bar chart, tally the data within each
category into combined totals before drawing the chart.

Step 2: Draw the vertical axis to represent the values of the variable of comparison (eg number, cost,
time). Establish the range for the data by subtracting the smallest value from the largest. Determine the
scaled for the vertical axis at approximately 1.5 times the range and label the axis with the scale and unit
of measure.

Step 3: Determine the number of bars needed. The number of bars will equal the number f categories for
simple or stacked bar charts. For a grouped bar chart, the number of bars will equal the number of
categories multiplied by the number of groups. This number for determining the length of the horizontal
axis.

Step 4: Draw bars of equal width for each item and label the categories and the groups. Provide a title
for the graph that indicates the sample and the time period covered by the data; label each bar.

Pie Chart or Circle Graph. Pie charts show proportions in relation to a whole, with each wedge
representing a percentage of the total. Pie charts are useful for displaying: The component parts of
a whole in percentages. Budget, geographic or population analysis.
H. How to Use a Pie Chart

Step 1. Taking the data to be charted, calculate the percentage contribution for each category. First, total
all the values. Next, divide the value of each category by the total. Then, multiply the product by 100 to
create a percentage for each value.

Step 2. Draw a circle. Using the percentages, determine what portion of the circle will be represented by
each category. By eye, divide the circle into four quadrants, each representing 25 percent.

Step 3. Draw in the segments by estimating how much larger or smaller each category is. Calculating he
number of degrees can be done by multiplying the percent by 3.6 and then using a compass to draw the
portions.

Step 4. Provide a title for the pie chart that indicates the sample and the time period covered by the data.
Whenever possible, use bar or pie charts to support data interpretation. Do not assume that results or
points are so clear and obvious that a chart is not needed for clarity.

Condition:
Be careful not to use to many notations on the charts. Keep them as simple as possible and
include only the information necessary to interpret the chart.

Do not draw conclusions not justified by the data. For example, determining whether a trend
exists may require more statistical tests and probably cannot be determined by the chart alone.
Differences among groups are so clear and obvious that c hart is not needed for clarity.

To ensure that this does not happen, follow these guidelines:

 Scales must be in regular intervals
 Charts that are to be compared must have the same scale and symbols
 Charts should be easy to read

Line Graph (Polygon Method). Line graphs show sets of data points plotted over a time period and
connected by straight lines. Line graphs are useful for displaying:

 Any sets of figures that needs to be shown over time

 Results from two or more groups compared over time
 Data trends over time
I. Analysis and Interpretation

The discussion part should present the principles, relationship and generalization shown by the results.
The results need to be compared and interpreted with those in previously published works.

The implications of your results as well as possible practical applications must be discussed. The
presentation of data in tabular and textual forms must follow the arrangement of the specific problem.

The results and discussion are very often combined in theses. The presentation of results and discussion
should follow the sequence of the statement of the problem.

Make sure that you have described the conditions, which obtained for each of set of results what was
held constant? What were the other relevant parameters? Make sure too that you have used appropriate
statistical analyses. Where applicable, show measurement error and standard error on the graphs. Use
appropriate statistical tests.

In most cases, your results need discussion. What do they mean? How do they fit into the existing body
and knowledge? Are they consistent with current theories? Do they give new insights? Do they suggest
new theories or mechanisms?

Try to distance yourself from your usual perspective look and your work. Do not just ask yourself what
it means in terms of the accepted belief of your own research group, but also how other people in the
field might see. Does it have any implications that do not relate to the questions that you set out to
answer?

Lastly, know your data well enough so that the results are presented in a way that permits meaningful
interpretation.

Understand how modes of presentation will affect interpretation.