Topic Background information: Climate change and ecosystems. Many studies have documented a clear pattern of climate change toward warmer temperatures globally. What has been the subject of controversy, however, is the role of human activity and the impact of climate change on ecosystems. A survey of the North Sea over a 25-year period (1977 to 2001) shows that, as winter sea temperatures have warmed up, fish populations have moved farther north. Here are the data for mean winter sea-bottom temperature (in degrees Celsius) and mean northern latitude (in degrees) of anglerfish populations each year over the 25-year study period. Data is listed on the Excel document. Purpose: Scatter plots are important in statistics because they can show the extent of correlation, if any, between the values of observed quantities or phenomena (called variables). If no correlation exists between the variables, the points appear randomly scattered on the coordinate plane. A scatter chart works best when comparing large numbers of data points without regard to time. This is a very powerful type of chart and good when you are trying to show the relationship between two variables (x and y axis).

Skills: After this assignment you will be able to:

Understand scatter plots.
Label a scatter plot with title, horizontal and vertical axes when applicable
Create trend lines, equation of trend lines and correlation coefficient on a scatter plot.
Create a scatter plot from a set of data represented in a table using Excel.
Knowledge: This assignment will help you to become familiar with the following important content in Statistics:

How scatter plots are used for analyzing data and finding outliers.
How to remove outliers and analyze the trend line without outliers.
Task: Use Excel to create scatter plot and trend lines. Answer questions about the scatter plots and trend lines. Following the steps on “Linear Regression Project Submission Page” for this project.

Criteria for grading:

4 graphs (5 points each) 20

2 question sets (5 points each 10

Total: 30

Start: Open “Data for Linear Regression Project” document: Data for Linear Regression Project. xlsxPreview the document

Use information from the "Discussion - Scatter Plots" to help with this project.

Here is a video to go over how to create a Scatter Plot (if needed): Link (Links to an external site.)

Following the following steps to complete the project.

1. Make a scatter plot of the relationship between latitude of angler fish populations (y) and temperature (x). Horizontal axis numbering starts from 6 to 8 with 0.5 increments. Vertical axis numbering starts at 56.5 to 59.5 with 0.5 increments. Label the x and y axis. No grid lines. Make an appropriate chart title.

Open "Linear Regression Project Submission Page" document: Linear Regression Project Submission Page. docx

Copy the scatter plot onto the document in the appropriate area.

2. Find the equation for the regression line to predict latitude from temperature and the value of the correlation. Add the regression line (trend line) to your scatter plot.

Copy the scatter plot onto the submission page in the appropriate area.

3. The scatter plot shows one outlier of the relationship. Remove that point from the data set and calculate the new regression line and correlation. Add the new regression line to your original scatter plot, making sure to use a different color or line thickness. (You will need to look up on the internet how to do this). Both trend lines should be showing on the graph.

Copy the scatter plot onto the submission page in the appropriate area.

Add to the last graph the trend line equation and correlation of the scatter plot that does not include the outlier. Copy the scatter plot onto the submission page in the appropriate area.

Answer any questions on the submission page.

Save this document in Word and submit when completed.