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Based on this context, identify what these lines are called, explain what they tell the reader about the data in each condition, and describe what statistical measurements they typically represent.
Case context: A student in a research methods class is looking at a bar graph in a psychology journal article. Above and below the top of each bar, there is a small vertical line. The caption states that these lines represent the variability of the scores within each condition, rather than the average score itself.
Question: Based on this context, identify what these lines are called, explain what they tell the reader about the data in each condition, and describe what statistical measurements they typically represent.
Sample answer: These lines are called error bars. They tell the reader about the variability within each group or condition. Typically, they represent one standard deviation or one standard error in each direction.
Key points:
- Identify the visual lines as error bars.
- Comprehend that error bars show variability within each group or condition.
- Describe that they typically represent one standard deviation or one standard error in each direction.
Rubric: The response must correctly identify the lines as error bars, explain that they represent variability within a group or condition, and identify that they depict one standard error or one standard deviation in each direction.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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