Da VIP Academy / GED / Science / Scientific Practices & Data
Reading Data & Drawing Conclusions
Interpret tables and graphs and judge whether a conclusion is supported.
How it works
Describe the pattern before you judge it
Say the trend out loud: 'as light increases, height increases, but the gain flattens after 12 hours.' Then check which answer matches that sentence.
Correlation is not causation
Two things moving together may share another cause. A supported conclusion never goes past what the data measured.
Worked examples
What does the flattening between Group C and D suggest?
- 19.8 cm vs 20.2 cm is a small gain.
- Extra light past 12 hours adds little.
- Conclusion: benefits level off.
Words to know
- Correlation
- A relationship in which two variables change together.
Test-day tips
- • Reject any conclusion using 'proves' — data supports, it rarely proves.