Graph Selection Guide

By Learn Statistics Easily

The Problem

[{"selector":"#anim-4ef12127-52d6-4052-8432-5d4562a1c80e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-1.0302869668521453e-13%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Understand the challenge of choosing graphs for clear data presentation.

Importance of Graphs

[{"selector":"#anim-caad5183-e848-490a-9402-51664004386b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-1.0302869668521453e-13%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Graphs simplify data, aiding in academic and professional success.

Identifying Variables

[{"selector":"#anim-93584623-01a6-4ce8-bbca-67edc5497e20 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-1.0302869668521453e-13%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Start by identifying your variables - quantitative or qualitative.

Choosing Graph Types

[{"selector":"#anim-b6f17964-ed0c-4be1-9889-73cf814d2193 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-1.0302869668521453e-13%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Match your variable types with the right graph for clarity.

Numeric Relationships

[{"selector":"#anim-ce79b751-87ac-43da-bbc6-83df9004805a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-1.0302869668521453e-13%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9de12c48-8c01-45dc-99f2-0f0e09f5a0cd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d05d6baa-b238-463e-9af2-ec419fd9dfc7","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Use scatter plots to explore relationships between two quantitative variables.

Category vs. Quantity

[{"selector":"#anim-a77a9ffb-75e6-4a66-85c8-4174ee181da6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-1.0302869668521453e-13%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f9ef237c-a2fe-4c92-b604-9924df285e14","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d257bfe4-6af1-4308-821e-6d5252d32d62","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Bar charts and dot plots can compare qualitative categories to quantitative data.

Category Frequencies

[{"selector":"#anim-5c4daf09-8d7f-4e44-af30-ad6c3eb03ccf [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-1.0302869668521453e-13%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-acdd43b6-75af-44e6-b8e6-767163282dce","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d5865620-ea4b-4b33-91ec-19b8a8962b54","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Pie charts and bar graphs are perfect for showing category frequencies.

Quantitative Frequencies

[{"selector":"#anim-ab8669a0-908e-4693-af41-63c13de8e99b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-1.0302869668521453e-13%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e0005a04-0986-468d-bbfa-0e7f30908586","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-48417918-b96d-47d7-b872-27b109bc8441","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Histograms effectively display the frequency distribution of quantitative variables.

Trends Over Time

[{"selector":"#anim-7dc1a801-b99f-4f01-8305-c4ed9b371d67 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-1.0302869668521453e-13%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aebd7107-9127-4f8f-82db-23b31ec5e09f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3342361d-f221-4d30-83e1-f0baf6f17c1f","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Line plots are ideal for visualizing changes in quantitative variables over time.

Concluding Advice

[{"selector":"#anim-6e25228a-274a-4679-9db8-68240975186c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-1.0302869668521453e-13%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Match your data's story to the graph type for impactful visualization.

Expand Your Skills

[{"selector":"#anim-8924cd98-2110-47ef-925f-03967eeadb5f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-1.0302869668521453e-13%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Dive deeper into data visualization with our recommended resources.

Discover More

[{"selector":"#anim-c5a53c47-ca19-421e-959d-c7ed9e2e752d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-1.0302869668521453e-13%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Explore the full guide to mastering graph selection for your data.

Your Next Step

[{"selector":"#anim-b9a04316-424c-476c-8811-49280fa34060 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-1.0302869668521453e-13%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Click to unlock the secrets of effective data visualization with graphs.