BIOL361 Lecture 2: Data in Biology
10 Apr 2016
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Document Summary
Data are systematically recorded information (numbers or labels) together with a context. Data are based on individual observations = observations or measurements taken on the smallest sampling unit ex. Sample collection of individual observations collected ex. Variable the actual property measured by the individual measurements or observations. Quantitative data consists of numbers representing counts or measurements. Qualitative data can be separated into diff categories that are distinguished by non-numeric characteristic. Categories of quantitative variables: continuous variables infinite number of values between any two fixed values for example: length, weight, angle, temperature. Measured approximately true value is unknown last digit indicates perceived accuracy: discrete only have certain fixed numerical values with no intermediate values possible. Accuracy closeness of a measured value to its true value. Precision closeness of repeated measurements of the same quantity to each other. There should be between 30 and 300 possible intervals between smallest and largest values in a sample.
