Graph and Figure Construction in Scientific Research

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to the construction and interpretation of graphs, figures, and tables in scientific research from the lecture notes.

Independent Variable

The variable that is plotted on the x-axis in a graph.

Dependent Variable

The variable that is plotted on the y-axis in a graph.

Figure Caption

A descriptive explanation positioned below a graph that allows viewers to understand the figure on its own.

Standard Curve

A graph that shows the relationship between known concentrations and measured values, used to determine unknown concentrations.

Error Bars

Visual indicators on a graph that represent the variability of data or uncertainty in measurements.

Scatter Plot

A graph used to show the relationships or correlations between two continuous variables.

Bar Graph

A graph that represents categorical data by showing the means or counts of different groups.

Box Plot

A graph that summarizes the distribution of a dataset through its median, quartiles, and outliers.

Table Caption

A succinct title that describes the content of a table, placed above it.

Figure Structure Components

The elements of a figure caption that answer 'What?', 'On whom?', 'How?', and 'Why?'.

Statistical Significance

A determination that the results observed in a study are unlikely to have occurred under the null hypothesis, often denoted by p-values.

Legend (in graphs)

An explanatory box containing descriptions of symbols, colors, or patterns used in the graph.

Horizontal Lines in Graphs

Indicator lines used to mark significant differences between groups on a plot.