writing in the disciplines

supporting statements with data

When reporting research results, biologists use data to support their claims. It is not enough simply to assert that x happened as a result of y. The biologist must use data to show correlation between x and y. Such data is most often presented in tabular and graphic forms. Once biologists work their data into tables or graphs, they then make textual references to the figures.

example of an appropriate reference to tables and figures

In addition to referring to figures and tables, biologists will often make parenthetical references to statistical correlations.

example of an appropriate parenthetical reference to statistical correlations