Interpreting Error Bars

What is an Error Bar?

An error bar is a line through a point on a graph, parallel to one of the axes, which
represents the uncertainty or variation of the corresponding coordinate of the point. In

IB Biology, the error bars most often represent the standard deviation of a data set.
Click here to ​learn what the standard deviation is​ or here to ​learn how to add standard
deviation error bars to a graph in Excel 2016​.

Example graphs with error bars:

Why Include Error Bars on a Graph?

Error bars can communicate the following information about your data:

● How spread the data are around the mean value (small SD bar = low spread,
data are clumped around the mean; larger SD bar = larger spread, data are more
variable from the mean).
 ● The reliability of the mean value as a representative number for the data set. In
other words, how accurately the mean value represents the data (small SD bar =
more reliable, larger SD bar = less reliable). It's important to note that just
because you have a larger SD, it does not indicate your data is not valid.
Biological measurements are notoriously variable.

● The likelihood of there being a significant difference between between data sets.
More on this below...

What do Error Bars Indicate about Statistical Significance?

A "significant difference" means that the results that are seen are most likely not due to
chance or sampling error. In any ​experiment​ or ​observation​ that involves sampling from
a ​population​, there is always the possibility that an observed effect would have occurred

due to ​sampling error​ alone. But if result is "significant," then the investigator may
conclude that the observed effect actually reflects the characteristics of the population
rather than just sampling error or chance.

​The standard deviation error bars on a graph can be used to get a sense for whether or
not a difference is significant. Look for overlap between the standard deviation bars:
When standard deviation When standard deviation When standard deviation
errors bars overlap quite a errors bars overlap even error bars do not overlap, it's
bit, it's a clue that the less, it's a clue that the a clue that the difference
difference is not statistically difference is probably not may be significant​, but ​you
significant​. You must statistically significant​. ​You cannot be sure​. You must
actually perform a statistical must actually perform a actually perform a statistical
test to draw a conclusion. statistical test to draw a test to draw a conclusion.
conclusion.

The standard deviation is NOT a statistical test, rather the standard deviation is a
measure of variability. To assess statistical significance, the sample size must also be
taken into account. Therefore, while standard deviation error bars can give you a clue
about statistical significance, you must actually ​perform a statistical test​ to draw a valid
conclusion.

For more, you can read the article "​Error bars in experimental biology​."

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