Basic Elements of a Graph Axes: Y (vertical), X (horizontal) Axis Labels: Y (R), X (sessions, days, etc.) Units (numbers) for Y and X axes Data points: X-Y plots representing values of R across sessions Phase-change lines: Vertical lines separating experimental conditions Phase labels: Descriptions of experimental conditions
Multiple Plot, More than One Set of Data
Multiple Plot, Double-Y Axis (Used when data represent different units of measurement)
Bar Graph (Used for Plotting Discontinuous Data)
Frequency Plot versus Cumulative Record Frequency plot: Each data-point value is graphed separately Cumulative record: Each data-point value is added to the previous value
Characteristics of Data Evaluated via Graphical Analysis Level: Mean (average) value of a set of data
Characteristics of Data Evaluated via Graphical Analysis Trend: Systematic change in level across measurements
Characteristics of Data Evaluated via Graphical Analysis Variability: Degree of fluctuation in a data set around its mean
Graphing Activity Kristen has a problem with spending money, and has been known to spend hundreds of dollars on unnecessary items ea. day. She decided to track her behavior for a week, and then implement an intervention in which she would have her boyfriend ignore her for the evening each time she spent money on unnecessary items. Kristen’s spending data during BL and intervention are listed below. Baseline Intervention 100 50 200 100 250 100 200 25 75 25 225 50 500 0
Graphing Activity