I encountered some challenges during my research when organizing and summarizing the data for light conditions, months, and growth values. I could not easily decide which type of graph will be the best option because I wanted to visually represent a large amount of data clearly. I tried Numbers, Pages, Excel, Open Source, and Word. Some do not support the others, and some do. I had several options: bar charts, scatterplots, pie charts and column charts, but finding the most effective way to show how these variables affect each other was challenging.
Creating a table with three class headers (light conditions, months, and growth values) was also important. I had to ensure that the table was both informative and easy to interpret. I had 40 replicates, and the common paper sizes or screens are too small for a width with so many replicates.
The outcome was mostly as I expected: moss growth showing the highest rates in partially shaded areas. I noticed small variations in the data that need further exploration. Some quadrats in fully shaded conditions showed unexpected growth patterns. They might have been influenced by other environmental factors like moisture retention. This unexpected grow gives new ideas for further exploration on how these factors impact the moss growth.