Create Great Graphs Easily (+Bonus)
You will learn to master graph creation using iNZight, a free, user-friendly software offering many chart types and inferential analysis options.
Are you grappling with selecting and creating appropriate graphs for your data? If so, we have the answer for you! Mastering the art of crafting compelling graphs has become a fundamental skill in various domains.
Commonly, individuals encounter significant challenges when generating their charts, including determining the appropriate chart type, choosing the right software, and understanding the steps involved in creating the chart.
Peruse this article to discover free, user-friendly software that will address many of your graph-creation concerns unequivocally.
The Challenge
A well-constructed graph simplifies the interpretation of the data you aim to present. The significance of this skill for professional success across multiple fields, particularly academia, is undeniable.
Many graph types exist, including scatter plots, bar/column plots, pie charts, and line graphs. But when and how should each be used?
Introducing iNZight, a free software solution that will undoubtedly alleviate many of your dilemmas concerning selecting and creating various graph types.
iNZight was initially developed by New Zealand students for local use. However, the project has grown and is now freely available for anyone to download and use globally.
The Solution
Firstly, download the iNZight software here. It’s available for Windows, Mac, and Linux (click here). The installation process is a breeze. Execute the downloaded file and click the “Install” button.
Upon completion, an iNZight icon will be created on your desktop. The software allows for importing spreadsheets from Excel, SPSS, and more.
Exploring iNZight: iNZight conveniently comes with several example data files. In this article, we’ll use iNZight’s school census example data.
One crucial tip is to thoughtfully create and organize your spreadsheet, ensuring each variable is in a column and each sample in a row.
The software’s operation is straightforward and intuitive. So you drag the variable you wish to represent from the column top to the appropriate spaces. For instance, I’ve dragged the gender variable to the Variable 1 field.
Since gender is a qualitative variable, it creates a bar/column chart displaying the proportion of each of the two genders.
Experimenting with the available variables in different combinations will result in iNZight automatically generating graphs based on the variable types.
The possible graphs stem from the following variable combinations:
1 x Qualitative Variable (frequency)
Bar/Column Chart
When representing one qualitative variable, dragging it to the Variable 1 field auto-generates a bar/column chart displaying each group’s frequency (percentage).
Examples of this variable type include gender, profession, marital status, educational level, species, types of investments, etc.
This graph serves as a replacement for pie/sector graphs.
1 x Quantitative variable (frequency)
Dot Plot + Box plot
To represent a single quantitative variable, iNZight creates a dot plot accompanied by a box plot.
Examples of this variable type include age, weight, height, time, distance, temperature, etc.
This graph serves as a replacement for histograms.
2 x Qualitative Variables (frequency)
Bar/Column Graph
By dragging two qualitative variables into the Variable 1 and Variable 2 fields, the software creates a multi-column chart comparing the frequencies.
1 x Qualitative Variable & 1 x Quantitative Variable
Dot Plot + Box plot
Dragging one qualitative variable into the Variable 1 field and one quantitative variable into the Variable 2 field creates a comparative graph, with dots representing observations and the box plot signifying summary measures.
2 x Quantitative Variables
Scatterplot
By selecting two quantitative variables, you can create a scatterplot.
All graphs offer export and customization options, such as adjusting font size, color, and symbol size.
BONUS
Inferential Analysis
To sweeten the deal, iNZight offers inferential analysis capabilities directly from the graph, including t-tests and ANOVA. Once the desired variables have been allocated in the fields, click the “Get Inference” button to open the inferential analysis box.
- T-test: Used when you have a qualitative variable with two groups and a quantitative one, such as gender and age.
- ANOVA: Used when you have a qualitative variable with more than two groups and a quantitative one, such as school-going style and age.
To learn more about t-tests and ANOVA, check out these resources on t-test here and ANOVA here!
Concluding Remarks
The iNZight software, built on the robust open-source R package, is an outstanding choice for quickly and effortlessly preparing various graphs.
We highly recommend downloading, installing, and exploring iNZight to discover its graphing capabilities and even perform a few inferential tests.
For further tips on graphing, we invite you to read our comprehensive article, “Simple and effective method for defining the best type of graph to represent your data.”
