In a cursory glance at a figure, we often overlook error bars in deference to the more 'significant' data that are shown. But is that information actually significant? Error bars hold the answer to that question—but do you understand them?
If you only vaguely remember your statistics class, a Feature in The Journal of Cell Biology is worth a look. In it, Cumming et al. review the information different error bars convey, and outline eight rules for using and interpreting them. IK
References
Cumming G. et al. Error bars in experimental biology. J. Cell Biol. 177, 7–11 (2007).
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Need an error bar refresher?. Nat Methods 4, 472 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/nmeth0607-472b
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nmeth0607-472b