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Year 10
Edexcel B

Interpreting graphs in geography

I can interpret data from a wide variety of graphs.

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New
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Year 10
Edexcel B

Interpreting graphs in geography

I can interpret data from a wide variety of graphs.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Graphs of data allow geographers to understand trends and correlations.
  2. Bivariate graphical data allows geographers to predict other values within or beyond the data set.
  3. More complex data presentation techniques can be used to show the relationships between two or more aspects of data.

Keywords

  • Bivariate data - data for two variables where one of those variables is believed to influence the other

  • Anomaly - a value within the data set that does not appear to follow the general pattern or trend

  • Interpolation - estimating unknown values within a data set based on other values within the set

  • Extrapolation - estimating unknown values beyond the data set based on the pattern or trend of the known values

Common misconception

An anomaly in a data set means that an error was made in the way the data was collected.

Anomalies could be found in data sets for many reasons, including human error during data collection. It is more likely however that a variable that was not investigated is having an influence on that particular value, causing it to seem 'wrong'.


To help you plan your year 10 geography lesson on: Interpreting graphs in geography, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

As students encounter and interpret graphs, ensure they are exposed to graphs with a variety of different scales and units. This will build their confidence in dealing with unusual values.
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is a correlation?
Correct answer: A relationship between two variables.
A piece of data that does not fit the general pattern.
A reason why data behaves in a certain manner.
A piece of data that is based on someone's opinion.
Q2.
What is the data range?
Correct answer: The difference between the maximum and minimum values in the data set.
The number of pieces of data in a data set.
The data placed in number order.
The most common piece of data in the set.
Q3.
What is a variable?
Correct answer: A feature that causes a change in the geographical phenomenon being studied.
An element of the data that stays the same and does not change.
An element of the data against which all other data is tested.
A feature that is in constant states of change.
Q4.
A graph that has two axes, a series of points plotted and a line of best fit is known as a ...
Correct Answer: scattergraph, scatter graph, scatter plot
Q5.
Which of the following actions would count as human error in the collection of geographical data?
Poor weather conditions.
Purposefully choosing one location over another.
Not recording enough data.
Correct answer: Misreading an instrument.
Q6.
What percentage is represented by a quartile of data?
10%
50%
Correct answer: 25%
100%

Exit quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
Interpreting the structure of a graph involves ...
Correct answer: reading the title, the key and understanding the axes and units used.
explaining the reasons for the data in the graph.
explaining the patterns or correlations in the data.
identifying the errors in the graph and how they affect the data patterns.
Q2.
What acronym can be used to help geographers carry out a descriptive interpretation of a graph?
Correct Answer: GRADE
Q3.
What is the most likely reason why data is anomalous?
Human error has affected the data.
Correct answer: An unmeasured variable is influencing the outlying data.
The data has been recorded incorrectly.
Too much data has been included in the data set.
Q4.
What is interpolation?
Correct answer: Predicting an unknown value that falls between two known values in a data set.
Predicting an unknown value that falls beyond a known value in a data set.
Reading graphs and charts to gain a stronger understanding of the geography.
A break in a data set such that it is incomplete.