Choosing an Appropriate Display

Learn choosing a data display, time-series ordering.

Lesson 3 of 32 parts Practice Flashcards

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Choosing a Data Display

Objective: Explain choosing a data display, apply the stated method, and check its conditions.

Match a display to variable types and the question. Separate bars compare categorical counts; touching numerical interval bins form a histogram. A scatterplot requires paired numerical variables. Time-order questions may need a line display, rather than arbitrarily linking category codes. Do not connect unordered category labels as if they were a time sequence.

Formulas

Categorical counts: bar chart; numerical bins: histogram

Worked examples

Try itA synthetic dataset of 57 students records bus route name. Choose a suitable display to compare category counts or grouped numerical frequencies.Show answer

Step 1: First identify whether the variable is categorical or quantitative. Step 2: The variable is nominal categorical. Step 3: A bar chart fits this one-variable summary; binning decisions still matter for numerical data.

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Choosing a Data Display

Objective: Explain choosing a data display, apply the stated method, and check its conditions.

Formulas

Categorical counts: bar chart; numerical bins: histogram

Worked examples

Try itA synthetic dataset of 57 students records bus route name. Choose a suitable display to compare category counts or grouped numerical frequencies.Show answer

Time-Series Ordering

Objective: Explain time-series ordering, apply the stated method, and check its conditions.

A time series retains chronological order to describe changes across times. A consecutive difference subtracts the earlier value from the later value. An aggregate histogram loses this order, and one observed change does not establish a lasting trend or cause. One time-to-time change is not proof of a persistent trend.

Formulas

Change = later value − earlier value

Worked examples

Try itA synthetic time series is 14 in week 1 and 28 in week 2. Find the change.Show answer

Step 1: Time order is important; compare consecutive observations. Step 2: Subtract week 1 from week 2. Step 3: The change is 14.

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