Each type of chart answers a different goal well: choosing the right one is the first step to communicating data honestly and effectively.
Observation — What to choose
Goal Best chart show the frequency of categories bar chart show the distribution of a continuous variable histogram show the composition of a total pie (few slices) or stacked bars compare several distributions side-by-side box plots show the relationship between two variables scatter plot The guiding principle summarised by Tufte is: “above all else show the data”. Beware of three-dimensional charts, truncated scales, hidden logarithmic axes: all typical ways of lying with statistics.
Links
Topics: Probabilita
Concepts: Rappresentazione grafica dati
Skills: Interpretare grafico