Editing 2713: Data Point
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| date = December 19, 2022 | | date = December 19, 2022 | ||
| title = Data Point | | title = Data Point | ||
| − | | image = | + | | image = data_point_2x.png |
| imagesize = 315x409px | | imagesize = 315x409px | ||
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| − | ==Explanation== | + | ==Explanation== |
| + | {{incomplete|Created by a REALLY COOL DATA POINT. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} | ||
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When scientific measurements are made, the conclusions are almost always based on many data points observed in relation to each other. The comic jokes that a single data point can somehow be of such interest in isolation that the other data may be disregarded. In reality, a single datum can almost never represent what the information in the related data taken together indicate. | When scientific measurements are made, the conclusions are almost always based on many data points observed in relation to each other. The comic jokes that a single data point can somehow be of such interest in isolation that the other data may be disregarded. In reality, a single datum can almost never represent what the information in the related data taken together indicate. | ||
[[Randall]]'s caption states that a figure illustrating a single datum thus constitutes a "science power move." (Similarly to the [[:Category:Science tip|science tips]] of previous comics.) | [[Randall]]'s caption states that a figure illustrating a single datum thus constitutes a "science power move." (Similarly to the [[:Category:Science tip|science tips]] of previous comics.) | ||
| − | This is most likely intended as | + | This is most likely intended as factitious satire, because the purpose of a chart or graph figure is to present multiple data which would be less clear than tabular or textual data, so there is never any reason to devote a figure to a single datum, regardless of its importance. It also could be a joke about papers which only highlight particularly interesting or significant data without including the background measurements or similar mundane information necessary to fully understand or reproduce the findings. While there are [https://www.aje.com/en/arc/data-not-shown-4-reasons-omit-figure-or-table/ accepted reasons for this practice,] it can be annoying when trying to follow an otherwise useful procedure or comparing aspects of the results the authors did not anticipate. |
The title text suggests relegating all the other data to supplementary materials, presumably to avoid detracting from the single "cool" datum. | The title text suggests relegating all the other data to supplementary materials, presumably to avoid detracting from the single "cool" datum. | ||
