Graphical Skills

Question 1

When should you use a Scatter Graph?

Answer 1

To show a relationship between two continuous variables

Question 2

Give a strength of a Scatter graph.

Answer 2

Shows a relationship between two variables

Can show exact data

Question 3

Give a weakness of a scatter graph.

Answer 3

Only compares two variables

Don’t know the strength of the relationship without a statistical test

Question 4

When should you use a Bar Graph?

Answer 4

X axis = discrete data; Y axis = continuous data// compare categories

Question 5

Give a strength of a Bar graph.

Answer 5

Show discrete data - absolute values
Shows and can compare multiple categories
Can show large data sets

Question 6

Give a weakness of a Bar graph

Answer 6

Doesn’t show relationships between categories and only show discrete categorical data
Located:
Position of the located symbol may obscure data on the base map
Located bars may begin in one are of the map and end in another creating confusion

Question 7

When should you use a Pie chart?

Answer 7

To show data as a percentage of a whole

Question 8

Give a strength of a pie chart.

Answer 8

Shows percentage total for each category

Question 9

Give a weakness of a pie chart.

Answer 9

No exact numerical data - so don’t know the total

Only show discrete (categorical) data

Question 10

When should you use a Line Graph?

Answer 10

Values plotted and joined by a line; compare continuous variables; multiple lines for multiple data sets

Question 11

Give a strength of a Line graph.

Answer 11

Show all data points - exact data
Shows range, min, max and anomalies easily
Can predict the future
Multiple data sets can be displayed on one graph

Question 12

Give a weakness of a Line graph

Answer 12

Can only use continuous data

Can be unclear if too many data sets used

Question 13

When should you use flow lines?

Answer 13

Show volume (width of the line) and direction (arrow points in direction) of movement

Question 14

Give a strength of flow lines.

Answer 14

Shows volume and direction
Show absolute and percentage values - by width of the line
Can show actual routes or be simplified to show the general straight line

Question 15

Give a weakness of flow lines.

Answer 15

Can overlap - be unclear

Question 16

When should you use desire lines?

Answer 16

Shows direction and movement (straight line joins places of origin and destination)

Question 17

Give a strength of a Desire lines.

Answer 17

Shows direction

Visual and clear

Question 18

Give a weakness of a desire lines.

Answer 18

May overlap and be unclear

Don’t know volume of movement

Question 19

When should you use a Radial diagram?

Answer 19

Central point data radiates outwards
Show relationship of a multiple variables to the central point
Show multiple variables of continuous data

Question 20

Give a strength of a radial diagram.

Answer 20

Show relationship of multiple variables to the central point
Can be used to show direction (e.g. if points of the compass used)
Trends in data clearly shown - variable with largest value highlighted

Question 21

Give a weakness of a radial diagram

Answer 21

Limited data applicable to this method
Difficult to read exact values from the scale on the axis as often diagram is too crowded to include a scale
Difficult to find a suitable scale when data has a wide range of values.

Question 22

When should you use isolines?

Answer 22

Line joins data points of equal value e.g. contour lines on a map; isovel (equal velocity in a river); isobars (same air pressure); isopleth (points of the same value)

Question 23

Give a strength of isolines.

Answer 23

Show data and distribution
Shows areas of equal value
Shows gradual change

Question 24

Give a weakness of isolines

Answer 24

Don’t show discontinuous distributions

Need gradual changes - otherwise lines too close and unclear

Question 25

When should you use a choropleth map?

Answer 25

Show spatial distribution of data

Question 26

Give a strength of a choropleth map.

Answer 26

Show spatial distribution

Question 27

Give a weakness of a choropleth map

Answer 27

Average - don’t show disparity
Show sudden changes which is inaccurate
Don’t show exact data (show range)

Question 28

When should you use a dispersion graph?

Answer 28

Show central tendency, shows the range of a set of data and the distribution

Question 29

Give a strength of a dispersion graph.

Answer 29

Show distribution of data and therefore indicate the reliability of the data
Can calculate the mean, median, range, mode, IQR and standard deviation
Anomalies shown

Question 30

Give a weakness of a dispersion graph

Answer 30

Standard deviation can be manipulated

Works best with lots of data

Question 31

When should you use a dot map?

Answer 31

Dots show spatial distribution of data with equally sized dots

Question 32

Give a strength of a dot map.

Answer 32

Shows distribution of data

Question 33

Give a weakness of a dot map

Answer 33

Don’t show precise data (all dots are equal sized)
Dot is equal to given value - is anywhere without a dot empty
Large number of dots/overlap unclear

Question 34

When should you use a triangular Graph?

Answer 34

Shows percentage data divided into three - data must total 100%

Question 35

Give a strength of a triangular graph.

Answer 35

Show division of data if three variables

Can spot patterns and anomalies

Question 36

Give a weakness of a triangular graph

Answer 36

Only three variables/must total 100%

Question 37

When should you use a kite diagram?

Answer 37

Show density and distribution of data along a transect

Question 38

Give a strength of a kite diagram.

Answer 38

Shows patterns of change over distance

Question 39

Give a weakness of a kite diagram

Answer 39

Limited data applicable to this method

Question 40

When should you use a proportional circle map?

Answer 40

Data and distribution - size of circle = amount of data

Question 41

Give a strength of a proportional circle map.

Answer 41

Shows spatial distribution

Question 42

Give a weakness of a proportional circle map

Answer 42

Not accurate - can’t extract data

Overlap = unclear