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Resources for more information on types of graphs
Histogram
Definition
A Histogram is a diagram that groups data into bins (rectangles) whose height is proportional to the frequency of a variable and whose width is equal to the bin size. A Histogram shows the distribution of a single variable.
Type(s) of Data Shown With the Graph
Quantitative
What the Graph is Used to Show
Distribution of data
Violin Plot
Definition
A Violin Plot displays the distribution of data using density curves. It is the combination of a box plot and a density plot.
Type(s) of Data Shown With the Graph
Quantitative
What the Graph is Used to Show
Distribution of data, Relationships between variables
Heat Map
Definition
A Heat Map visualizes the magnitude of data through variations in color.
Type(s) of Data Shown With the Graph
Quantitative, Qualitative
What the Graph is Used to Show
Comparisons of variables, Relationships between variables, Distribution of data, Changes in the data over time
Timeline
Definition
A Timeline is a plot of events in chronological order, where time is put on the horizontal scale of the plot and the variable being measured is on the vertical scale.
Type(s) of Data Shown With the Graph
Qualitative
What the Graph is Used to Show
Changes in data over time
Bar Chart
Definition
A Bar Chart displays data as equal-width rectangular bars with lengths proportional to each bar's numeric value. Typically, the bars are vertical, but horizontal bars can also be used. A Bar Chart, while somewhat similar in appearance to a Histogram, is used to show similarities and differences between multiple variables.
Type(s) of Data Shown With the Graph
Quantitative, Qualitative
What the Graph is Used to Show
Comparisons of variables
Network Diagram
Definition
Network Diagrams (also called Network Graphs) visualize the interconnectivity between a set of entities (represented by a vertex or node). The connections between the vertices are called edges (or links).
Type(s) of Data Shown With the Graph
Quantitative, Qualitative
What the Graph is Used to Show
Relationships between variables
Venn Diagram
Definition
A Venn Diagram shows all possible logical relationships between a finite collection of sets.
Type(s) of Data Shown With the Graph
Quantitative, Qualitative
What the Graph is Used to Show
Relationships between variables
Area Chart
Definition
An Area Chart is a Line Chart with the area below filled in with a color or texture.
Type(s) of Data Shown With the Graph
Quantitative
What the Graph is Used to Show
Changes in the data over time or continuous interval, Distribution of data
Scatter Plot
Definition
A Scatter Plot shows the relationship between two quantitative variables, where the data is displayed as a collection of points. For each data point, the values of one variable appear on the horizontal axis and the values of the other variable appear on the vertical axis.
Type(s) of Data Shown With the Graph
Quantitative
What the Graph is Used to Show
Relationships between variables, Distribution of data
Box and Whisker Plot
Definition
A Box and Whisker Plot displays the distribution of variables through their quartiles. The lines extending out from the boxes are the "whiskers", which are indicators of variability outside of the lower and upper quartiles. Outliers can be displayed as individual points.
Type(s) of Data Shown With the Graph
Quantitative
What the Graph is Used to Show
Distribution of data, Relationship between variables
Line Chart
Definition
A Line Chart (or Line Graph) displays data as a series of points connected by straight line segments.
Type(s) of Data Shown With the Graph
Quantitative
What the Graph is Used to Show
Changes in the data over time or a continuous interval, Distribution of data
Gantt Chart
Definition
A Gantt Chart is a horizontal bar chart that visually illustrates a project plan or activity over time.
Type(s) of Data Shown With the Graph
Qualitative
What the Graph is Used to Show
Changes in the data over time, Distribution of data
Sankey Diagram
Definition
A Sankey Diagram is a directional flow chart, in which the width of the arrows are proportional to the flow quantity.
Type(s) of Data Shown With the Graph
Quantitative, Qualitative
What the Graph is Used to Show
Comparisons of variables, Weighted networks, Relationships between variables
Choropleth Map
Definition
A Choropleth Map is a map that displays divided geographical regions or areas that use differences in coloring, shading, or patterns to show a relation to a data variable.
Type(s) of Data Shown With the Graph
Spatial, Quantitative, Qualitative
What the Graph is Used to Show
Geographical data, Distribution of data, Comparisons of variables
Refrences
Moore, D. S. (2009). Introduction to the Practice of Statistics. WH Freeman and company.
Ribecca , S. (2024). The Data Visualisation Catalogue. https://datavizcatalogue.com/
Healy, Y. H. and C. (2017). Find the graphic you need. From data to Viz. https://www.data-to-viz.com/