Data Management
Leur Eidrian Carl Ladera
Matt Janzel Lanto
Johnny Hill Salaysay
Abstract
Studies involve the collection of data.
This data is then put through statistical
tests to determine the conclusion of the
study. In this exercise, the correlation
between the ppm of pesticides and the
number of guppies was identified. It was
found out that it had a strong negative
correlation.
Introduction
All ecological studies involve
collecting data (Smith & Smith, 2015).
Data can be classified as either
categorical or numerical. Categorical
data are qualitative which involves
observations based on the features,
color, etc. It can be subdivided into two
categories, nominal and ordinal.
Nominal data are unordered categories
while ordinal data are ordered
categories. If only two observations
exists such as the presence or absence,
then the categorical data is referred to
as binary. Numerical data are measured
based on quantity like height, length,
and weight. Numerical data can be
subdivided into two categories, discrete
and continuous. Discrete data can only
contain certain values while continuous
data can contain any values.
Data are put through statistical
tests to determine if there are effects or
trends in the experiment. Statistical tests
provide the grounds whether to accept
or reject a hypothesis. Statistical tests
also help in providing a conclusion.
Statistical tests come in two
categories, parametric and
non-parametric. In parametric stats, it
involves using data from a population
that follows a probability distribution. In
non-parametric, it involves data that
follows no probability distribution and
often arranged in ranks.
Spearman’s rank correlation
coefficient is a nonparametric measure
of rank correlation. It determines the
strength and direction of the monotonic
relationship between two variables.
The value of the correlation
coefficient, ⍴, can range between -1, 0,
1. ⍴ < 0 signifies negative correlation, ⍴
= 0 signifies no correlation, and ⍴ > 0
signifies positive correlation. The
distance of ⍴ to -1 or 1 shows the
strength of correlation.
 D 90 7
Methodology
A problem was given to the
E 80 3
students in order for them to determine
what statistical test to use.
F 75 7
Problem
A DENR official was alerted to G 55 8
the presence of a leak in the pipeline of
a pesticide factory that was slowly H 55 10
releasing pesticide by-products into a
nearby creek. Although the pesticide I 42 12
company issued a statement that the
leaked material was non-toxic, the J 28 7
official went to the site and collected
water samples from the start of the leak K 22 30
upstream all the way to the end of the
creek, at 10 meter intervals. He also L 20 40
counted the number of guppies at each
collecting site. Each water sample was M 17 42
analyzed for the presence and amount
of the pesticide by-product at the lab.
The results obtained are as follows: Methods
The problem showed
TABLE 1: Amount of pesticide non-parametric values and a test for
by-product and the number of guppies correlation was implied. The statistical
test Spearman’s rank was used to
identify the relationship between the
Amount of the Number of
amount of pesticide and the number of
pesticide Guppies
guppies since it uses non-parametric
by-product
data and is used to identify the
(ppm)
correlation.
A 170 4
Ho = There is no correlation
B 145 2 between the ppm of pesticide and the
guppies.
C 145 5 Ha = There is a correlation
between the ppm of pesticide and the
guppies.
Results and Discussion
TABLE 2: Statistical analysis
No.
of
gup
ppm pies Rank Ran
(x) (y) x ky d d​2

A 170 4 13 3 10 100

B 11. 10. 110

145 2 5 1 5 .25 Spearman rank correlation is a
non-parametric test that is used to measure
C 11. 56. the degree of association between two
145 5 5 4 7.5 25 variables. The test does not carry any
assumptions about the distribution of the
D 90 7 10 6 4 16 data and is the appropriate correlation
analysis when the variables are measured
E 80 3 9 2 7 49 on a scale that is at least ordinal.
The test also measures the strength
F 75 7 8 6 2 4
and direction of monotonic association
G -2. 6.2 between two variables. Monotonicity is "less
restrictive" than that of a linear relationship.
55 8 6.5 8 5 5
A monotonic relationship is a
H -3. 12. relationship that does either of the two: (1)
55 10 6.5 9 5 25 as the value of one variable increases, so
does the value of the other variable; or (2)
I 42 12 5 10 -5 25 as the value of one variable increases, the
other variable value decreases.
J 28 7 4 6 -2 4
Conclusion
K 22 30 3 11 -8 64 Since ρ = -0.9, reject the Ho.
L 20 40 2 12 -10 100 Therefore, there is a very strong
negative correlation between the ppm of
M 17 42 1 13 -12 144 pesticide and the number of guppies.

T References
o Smith, T. M., & Smith, R. L. (2015).
t Elements of ecology​. Harlow (Essex:
a Pearson.)
l 944 177 91 91 0 691