Show You have a mountain of valuable data—but how can you use it to convey a poignant message? The answer: a simple but powerful bar, line, or pie graph that will help your audience quickly understand the meaning of your data. Here are a few basic types of graphs: Bar graph A bar graph is used when there are two variables, and is helpful when comparing groups or tracking changes over time. The bars can be vertical or horizontal and represent relative value or frequency. A line graph also can be used in these situations, but a bar graph is preferable when illustrating magnitude rather than direction. Bar graph example: two variables In this case the time period is constant, but biggest revenue source by percentage is being compared— underscoring the fact that Google’s revenue stream (top line of chart) is the least diversified. (Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/chart-of-the-day-google-is-the-least-diversified-business-in-tech-2012-2) Line graph A line graph is also used when there are two variables—but only makes sense when you’re tracking changes over a continuous measurement (e.g., time, temperature, distance). Line graphs are especially useful for illustrating direction (i.e., peaks and dips) rather than magnitude. Line graph example: two variables In this line graph, the dip in the summer months and beginning/end of the year illustrate the seasonality of this company’s business. Pie graph Unlike a bar or line graph, a pie graph is used when there is only one variable and is best for comparing parts of a whole. The sum of the pieces always equals 100 percent, and the visual conveys a relative value or frequency. A pie graph is not particularly insightful if all parts are about the same or if there are too many discrete pieces. Pie graph example: one variable In one quick glance, this pie chart tells us that the iPhone brought in the bulk of Apple’s total Q1-11 revenue. As these graphs demonstrate, when making comparisons, illustrating trends, or highlighting relationships, the old saying rings true: A picture is worth a thousand words. How will you know which type of graph is best suited for your data? Ask yourself:
Your answers will steer you towards the right answer. TagsPosted InRelated posts
If you have data you want to visualize, make sure you use the right charts. While your data might work with multiple chart types, it’s up to you to select the one that ensures your message is clear and accurate. Remember, data is only valuable if you know how to visualize it and give context. We’ll give you an overview of the different chart types and explain how to pick the right one. What story does your data tell?Before making a chart it's important to understand why you need one. Charts, maps, and infographics help people understand complicated data, find patterns, identify trends, and tell a story. Think about the message you want to share with your audience. Follow best charting practices. Your numbers need to add up and charts need to be scaled accordingly. What would you like to show? There are four main types of charts: Source: The Extreme Presentation Method Learn how to use storytelling best practices to create stunning images and powerful presentations that drive audience engagement. ComparisonComparison charts are used to compare one or more datasets. They can compare items or show differences over time. RelationshipRelationship charts are used to show a connection or correlation between two or more variables. CompositionComposition charts are used to display parts of a whole and change over time. DistributionDistribution charts are used to show how variables are distributed over time, helping identify outliers and trends. Selecting the right chart typeAsk yourself how many variables do you want to show, how many data points you want to display and how you want to scale your axis. Line, bar and column charts represent change over time. Pyramids and pie charts display parts-of-a-whole. While scatter plots and treemaps are helpful if you have a lot of data to visualize. Types of ChartsLine ChartsA line chart reveals trends or change over time. Line charts can be used to show relationships within a continuous data set, and can be applied to a wide variety of categories, including daily number of visitors to a site or variations in stock prices. Best practices for creating line charts:
Pie ChartsThe pie chart is one of the most used and hated chart types of all time. Pie charts are used to show parts of a whole. A pie chart represents numbers in percentages, and the total sum of all the divided segments equals 100 percent. Best practices for creating pie charts:
Bar Charts and Column ChartsBar and column charts are used to compare different items. Bars on a column chart are vertical while bars on a bar chart are horizontal. Bar charts are generally used to help avoid clutter when one data label is long or if you have more than 10 items to compare. They are easy to understand and to create. Best practices for creating bar and column charts:
TreemapTreemaps show parts of a whole. They display hierarchical information as a cluster of rectangles varying in size and color, depending on their data value. The size of each rectangle represents a quantity, while the color can represent a number value or a category.
Best practices for creating a Treemap
Dual Axis ChartWith a dual axis chart you are essentially combining multiple charts and adding a second y-axis for comparison. Some members of the data visualization community are skeptical about the use of dual axis charts because they can often be confusing, poorly designed, and misleading to the viewer. Let’s go over the different types of dual axis charts and the best ways to use them: Column and Line Chart– This dual axis chart combines a column chart with a line chart. Dual Line Chart – This dual axis chart compares two line charts. There can be more than two lines if need be. Dual Column Chart– This dual axis column chart shows two sets of data displayed side by side. Multiple Axes Chart – This displays the most complex version of the dual axis chart. Here you see three sets of data – with three y-axes. Area ChartArea charts are a lot like line charts, with a few subtle differences. They can both show change over time, overall trends, and continuity across a dataset. But, while area charts may function the same way as line charts, the space between the line and axis is filled in, indicating volume. Best practices for creating Area charts
Pyramid ChartPyramid charts (triangle chart or triangle diagram) are a fun way to visualize foundation based relationships. ey appear in the form of a triangle that has been divided into horizontal sections with categories labeled according to their hierarchy. They can be oriented up or down depending on the relationships they represent. The stacked layers can also show the order of steps in a particular process. Best practices for creating Pyramid Charts
Word CloudWord clouds (also known as tag clouds) are a type of weighted list. Word clouds display text in varying font sizes, weight, or colors to show frequencies or categories. They can be arranged alphabetically or at random. They help people identify trends and patterns that might have been difficult to see otherwise. Best practices for creating a Word Cloud
TablesTables display data in rows and columns. Tables make it easy to compare pairs of related values or to display qualitative information (e.g. quarterly sales over several years). There are multiple reasons you might select a table over a graph, as the right way to visualize your data. Best practices for creating reporting tables
|