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Data Patterns

Science: Year 5 & 6 National Curriculum, topic 11.2.4

Data Patterns

Scientists look for patterns in data and compare them. The comparison shows if there is a relationship between factors in an experiment.

Example

Example

  • Imagine a scientist is investigating the relationship between carbon dioxide and global temperatures.
  • The scientist will look for patterns
  • in the amount of carbon dioxide
  • in how global temperature changes
  • The scientist may notice there is a relationship between those two things.
Correlation

Correlation

  • A relationship between two or more pieces of data is a correlation.
  • Example: Global temperature increases when the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increases.

Test yourself on Data Patterns

  • What do we find when there is a relationship between pieces of data?

  • What does a comparison of patterns in data show?

  • What do scientists look for in data?

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