Variation

Limpets can be
found on bare
rock

or under
seaweed
 All the limpets are of the same
species. Do you expect any
differences between the two
groups?
• Yes, because • No, because
15 limpets from each habitat were
measured along their longest sides
 Limpets on bare rock
longest side of
limpet /mm

30.40
25.10
19.00
25.20
22.40 mean: 23.74
23.60
17.80
11.90
16.60
30.80
22.70
33.80
25.50
26.70
24.60
 Limpets under seaweed
longest side of
limpet /mm
18.90
17.40
27.10
38.40
44.00 Mean: 19.49
21.10
29.30
16.30
13.50
19.00
4.90
7.30
10.90
12.70
11.50
The two mean values suggest that
the limpets on the bare rock are
larger than the limpets under the
seaweed. Can we justify this
conclusion?
• Yes, because • No, because
Displaying the data as a graph can
help to see patterns
 Frequency distribution graph for size of limpets on bare rock
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
0.0 - 5.0- 10.0- 15.0- 20.0- 25.0- 30.0- 35.0 - 40.0- What extra
4.9 9.9 14.9 19.9 24.9 29.9 34.9 39.9 44.9
information
do you get
from the
Frequency distribution graph for size of limpets under
seaweed
graphs?
5
4
4
3
3
2
2
1
1
0
0.0 - 4.9 5.0-9.9 10.0- 15.0- 20.0- 25.0- 30.0- 35.0 - 40.0-
14.9 19.9 24.9 29.9 34.9 39.9 44.9
 Standard deviation
In each sample, the data varies about the
mean. We need some way of quantifying
this variation so that we can see whether
the means are truly different or whether
the differences are just due to chance
happenings when the samples were being
taken. Standard deviation is a measure of
the spread of data about the mean.
Calculation of standard deviation
Length of limpet x2
x
30.40 924.16
25.10 630.01

19.00 361.00
25.20 635.04
22.40 501.76
23.60 556.96 n =15
17.80 316.84
11.90 141.61 The standard deviation
16.60 275.56 for the limpets on bare
30.80 948.64 rock works out to 5.76.
22.70 515.29
33.80 1142.44
The standard deviation
25.50 650.25
for limpets under
26.70 712.89 seaweed works out to
24.60 605.16 11.06.
∑366.10 ∑8917.61
 Standard deviation is as important
to A level as means are to GCSE
• You will need to be able to use your
calculator to find out the standard
deviation of a set of data.
• Different calculators do this in slightly
different ways.
• Whenever you have a number of different
data points, always work out their
standard deviation as well as their mean
 Find out how to calculate standard
deviation using your calculator
• Switch it on
• Press MODE until it offers SD
• Press the number that is under SD
(clear the memory: this is different for each calculator;
look in the lid for instructions)
• Enter the data, in the way the instructions tell you.
• You can then find mean and standard deviation from
the instructions on the lid.
 DON’T PANIC!
• You won’t have to do this on your own
until you do the A2 coursework, but by
then it is assumed that it has become an
automatic part of your approach to data.
These are the mean values, plotted as a bar
chart. Are the two samples really different or
is the difference due to chance?
mean length/mm

25

20

15

10

0
on bare rock under seaweed
We can use the standard deviation
to answer this question.
The standard deviation, divided by the
square root of the sample size, gives a
number called the standard error.
s.e. = s.d
√n
The standard error x 2, when added to
and subtracted from the mean, generates
confidence limits.
For limpets on bare rocks,
Standard deviation = 5.76,
so standard error = 5.76/√15 = 1.49
The mean of this sample was 23.74,
so the confidence limits are
23.74 + (1.96 x 1.49)
and 23.74 – (1.96 x 1.49).
These come to 26.66 and 20.82
Doing the same calculation for the limpets
under the seaweed, the confidence limits
work out to 25.1 and 13.88
These are the limits within which 95% of the
data will lie.
You then draw these limits on the graph,
you can find out if they overlap. If they do,
you can be 95% confident that your two
samples come from the same population, ie
any difference between them is due to
chance, not real variation. If they do not
overlap, you can be 95% confident that they
are from different populations where the
differences are due to factors other than
chance.