Graphical representations:

• Background on graphical representations:

  • Graphs are used to represent quantitive data
  • They act as a visual aid and allows us to see patterns in a data set
  • To communicate information effectively, a graph must have:

  1. a title
  2. labels on each axis
  3. appropriate scale
• What are the different types of graph?

  • Bar Chart
  • Histogram
  • Scattergram
• Bar charts:

  • Used to present discrete data
  • Discrete data is data that is not continuous
  • It is divided into categories that have no particular order
  • A space is left between each bar to represent the lack of continuity
  • The IV is placed on the x-axis
  • The DV is placed on the Y-axis
• Histograms:

  • used to present continuous data
  • Continuous data is divided into categories that do have a particular order
  • The bars touch to represent continuity
  • The IV is placed on the x-axis
  • The DV is placed on the y-axis
• Scattergrams:

  • Used to present a correlation
  • One variable presented on the x-axis
  • One variable presented on y-axis
  • Point plotted where two variables meet
  • Pattern of plotted points reveals type of correlation (positive, negative or zero)