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24: Visual Display of Data

DOI:

10.1891/9781617050992.0024

Authors

  • Melguizo, Maria S., MS
  • Wellen, Marcus, MD

Abstract

This chapter offers examples of good and bad visual data displays. It presents definitions and descriptions for bar chart, pie chart, histogram, box plot, survival plot and scatterplot. In general, data displays are used for exploratory data analysis and to illustrate relationships of the data. A visual display is a way to summarize information. A good statistical analysis is usually composed of visual displays, tables, and statistical tests. Once the data type is identified, the application of visualization techniques should be straightforward. When analyzing a continuous variable, the two most common visual displays are histograms and box plots. When the interest is to study the relationship between a continuous variable and a categorical variable, a box plot comparing the groups is usually used. Scatterplots are usually used to display the relationship between two continuous variables, such as the relationship between height and weight.