Data processing and analysis
Data processing and analysis
This section will guide students through the processing and analysis of primary data acquired during their fieldwork investigation. Students will learn and use a variety tools for presenting primary data.
Time allocation - approx. 120 minutes
Learning intentions
We are learning to:
process and present primary fieldwork data
Success criteria
I can:
use digital technologies to process and analyse data.
select and use appropriate graphs, statistics and visual representations to present primary data.
interpret graphs, statistics and visual representations to draw conclusions about the functioning of earth's natural systems in the forests at the Field of Mars Reserve.
Eucalypt forest word cloud
A word cloud is a collection or cluster of words depicted in different sizes. The bigger and/or bolder the word appears, the more frequent it appears in a data set.
How to create a word cloud easily | Mentimeter (3:02) | YouTube
Activity 1
Enter your sensory observations into a word cloud generator such as Mentimeter.
Use the word cloud to identify the most common words used to describe the Eucalypt forest.
Class spreadsheet
Digital technologies such as spreadsheets can be used to organise and process primary data.
Use this link to create your own class copy - Earth's natural systems - Field of Mars EEC - Student spreadsheet.
Activity 2
Teacher activity
Use this link to create a copy of the Google Sheets spreadsheet.
Earth's natural systems - Field of Mars EEC - Student spreadsheet
Ensure your copy of the spreadsheet is accessible by all students in the class.
Note: There are three tabs in this spreadsheet
Tab 1 - Dry sclerophyll forest (Site 1)
Tab 2 - Wet sclerophyll forest (Site 2)
Tab 3 - Comparison table
Whole class activity
In Tab 1 of the spreadsheet, each student group should enter the fieldwork data collected in the dry sclerophyll forest (Site 1).
Individual activity
Create your own individual copy of the spreadsheet after the class data from the dry sclerophyll forest has been inputted.
Familiarise yourself with the layout and functions of Google Sheets.
In Tab 2, enter the data your team collected in the wet sclerophyll forest. Remember, there will only be data inputted for the abiotic tests that you conducted.
Statistics and graphs
We can use statistics and graphs to summarise, present and compare quantitative data collected in the dry and wet sclerophyll forests.
Calculate mean, median, range and interquartile range in Google Sheets | LearnItDoItMakeIt (3:01) | YouTube
Ecological system comparison
Activity 3 - Calculating means
View the YouTube video detailing how to calculate a mean using Google Sheets.
Calculate the means for all quantitative variables measured as part of the ecological system in Tab 1 (dry sclerophyll forest) and Tab 2 (wet sclerophyll forest) of your spreadsheet.
Some examples of quantitative variables include foliage cover (%), tallest tree height (m), carbon storage (kg), etc.Complete the Ecological systems section of the comparison table in Tab 3 of your spreadsheet.
Creating a bar/column graph in Google Sheets | Dan Rott (10:31) | YouTube
Activity 4 - Column graphs
We will use column graphs to compare the ecological systems of the dry and wet sclerophyll forests. Column graphs are used to organise and display categorical data. In this instance, each forest type (dry sclerophyll forest and wet sclerophyll forest) represents our categories.
View the YouTube video detailing how to create a column graph using Google Sheets.
In Tab 3 of your spreadsheet, use your comparison table to create a column graph for each variable in the ecological system.
Use your graphs to compare and contrast the ecological systems of the dry and wet sclerophyll forests.
Abiotic comparisons
Activity 5
Use the instructions in Activity 3 to process the quantitative abiotic (non-living) factors you tested for in the wet sclerophyll forest. For each factor, calculate a mean and create a column graph.
Use your graphs to compare and contrast the atmospheric, hydrological and/or geomorphic systems of the dry and wet sclerophyll forests.
Note: We cannot use statistics and graphs to compare qualitative variables such as soil colour, soil texture etc. These variables must be compared and contrasted descriptively.