In presenting data that result from an experiment, a group of students show that most of their measurements fall on a straight diagonal line on their graph. However, two of their data points are "outliers" and fall far to one side of the expected relationship. What should they do?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Showing all results obtained, including outliers, is important for scientific transparency and reproducibility. The students should explore the reason(s) for these outliers, potentially by examining their methodology, equipment, or data analysis techniques. Eliminating or hiding outliers can skew the overall interpretation of the data and lead to incorrect conclusions.

In Presenting Data That Result from an Experiment, a Group