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Graph Types: Pros and Cons

The document describes different types of graphs and their advantages and disadvantages for visualizing data. It provides definitions and examples of pictographs, line plots, pie charts, histograms, bar graphs, line graphs, frequency polygons, scatterplots, stem-and-leaf plots, and box plots. Each graph type is best suited for certain types of data and better able to convey specific types of information, such as ranges, outliers, or comparisons between multiple data sets. The key considerations in choosing a graph include whether the data is continuous or discrete, the number of data points, and what relationships or summaries need to be visualized.

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87 views3 pages

Graph Types: Pros and Cons

The document describes different types of graphs and their advantages and disadvantages for visualizing data. It provides definitions and examples of pictographs, line plots, pie charts, histograms, bar graphs, line graphs, frequency polygons, scatterplots, stem-and-leaf plots, and box plots. Each graph type is best suited for certain types of data and better able to convey specific types of information, such as ranges, outliers, or comparisons between multiple data sets. The key considerations in choosing a graph include whether the data is continuous or discrete, the number of data points, and what relationships or summaries need to be visualized.

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© © All Rights Reserved
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Graph Advantages Disadvantages Picture

Pictograph A pictograph uses an  Easy to read  Hard to quantify


icon to represent a quantity of  Visually appealing partial icons
data values in order to decrease  Handles large data  Icons must be of
the size of the graph. A key must sets easily using consistent size
be used to explain the icon. keyed icons  Best for only 2-6
categories
 Very simplistic

Line plot A line plot can be used  Quick analysis of data  Not as visually appealing
as an initial record of discrete  Shows range, minimum  Best for under 50 data
data values. The range & maximum, gaps & values
determines a number line which clusters, and outliers  Needs small range of
is then plotted with X's for each easily data
data value.  Exact values retained

Pie chart A pie chart displays  Needs limited categories  Needs limited
data as a percentage of the  No exact numerical categories
whole. Each pie section should values  No exact numerical
have a label and percentage. A  Color key can skew values
total data number should be visual interpretation  Color key can skew
included. visual interpretation
Histogram A histogram displays  Visually strong  Cannot read exact
continuous data in ordered  Can compare to normal values because data is
columns. Categories are of curve grouped into categories
continuous measure such as  Usually vertical axis is a  More difficult to
time, inches, temperature, etc. frequency count of compare two data sets
They have no gaps. items falling into each  Use only with
category continuous data

Bar graph A bar graph displays  Visually strong  Graph categories can be
discrete data in separate columns.  Can easily compare two or reordered to emphasize
A double bar graph can be used to three data sets certain effects
compare two data sets. Categories  Use only with discrete data
are considered unordered and can
be rearranged alphabetically, by
size, etc.

Line graph A line graph plots  Can compare multiple  Use only with continuous
continuous data as points and then continuous data sets easily data
joins them with a line. Multiple  Interim data can be
data sets can be graphed together, inferred from graph line
but a key must be used.

Frequency Polygon A frequency  Visually appealing  Anchors at both ends may


polygon can be made from a line imply zero as data points
graph by shading in the area  Use only with continuous
beneath the graph. It can be made data
from a histogram by joining
midpoints of each column.
Scatterplot A scatterplot displays  Shows a trend in the data  Hard to visualize results in
the relationship between two relationship large data sets
factors of the experiment. A trend  Retains exact data values  Flat trend line gives
line is used to determine positive, and sample size inconclusive results
negative, or no correlation.  Shows minimum/maximum  Data on both axes should
and outliers be continuous

Stem and Leaf Plot Stem and leaf  Concise representation of  Not visually appealing
plots record data values in rows, data  Does not easily indicate
and can easily be made into a  Shows range, minimum & measures of centrality for
histogram. Large data sets can be maximum, gaps & clusters, large data sets
accommodated by splitting stems. and outliers easily
 Can handle extremely large
data sets

Box plot A box plot is a concise  Shows 5-point summary  Not as visually appealing as
graph showing the five point and outliers other graphs
summary. Multiple box plots can  Easily compares two or  Exact values not retained
be drawn side by side to compare more data sets
more than one data set.  Handles extremely large
data sets easily

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