Chapter 3: Data Visualization

data dashboard

A data-visualization tool that updates in real time and gives multiple outputs.

PivotChart

A graphical presentation created in Excel that functions similarly to a PivotTable.

scatter chart

A graphical presentation of the relationship between two quantitative variables. One variable is shown on the horizontal axis and the other on the vertical axis.

Line chart

A graphical presentation of time series data in which the data points are connected by a line.

Chart

A visual method for displaying data; also called a graph or a figure.

Bar chart

A graphical presentation that uses horizontal bars to display the magnitude of quantitative data. Each bar typically represents a class of a categorical variable.

PivotTable

An interactive crosstabulation created in Excel.

data-ink ratio

The ratio of the amount of ink used in a table or chart that is necessary to convey information to the total amount of ink used in the table and chart. Ink used that is not necessary to convey information reduces the data-ink ratio.

crosstabulation

A tabular summary of data for two variables. The classes of one variable are represented by the rows; the classes for the other variable are represented by the columns.

heat map

A two-dimensional graphical presentation of data in which color shadings indicate magnitudes.

treemap

A graphical presentation that is useful for visualizing hierarchical data along multiple dimensions. A treemap groups data according to the classes of a categorical variable and uses rectangles whose size relates to the magnitude of a quantitative variable.

scatter-chart matrix

A graphical presentation that uses multiple scatter charts arranged as a matrix to illustrate the relationships among multiple variables.

Column chart

A graphical presentation that uses vertical bars to display the magnitude of quantitative data. Each bar typically represents a class of a categorical variable.

Pie chart

A graphical presentation used to compare categorical data. Because of difficulties in comparing relative areas on a pie chart, these charts are not recommended. Bar or column charts are generally superior to pie charts for comparing categorical data.

parallel-coordinates plot

A graphical presentation used to examine more than two variables in which each variable is represented by a different vertical axis. Each observation in a data set is plotted in a parallel-coordinates plot by drawing a line between the values of each variable for the observation.

Bubble Chart

A graphical presentation used to visualize three variables in a two-dimensional graph. The two axes represent two variables, and the magnitude of the third variable is given by the size of the bubble.

trendline

A line that provides an approximation of the relationship between variables in a chart.

key performance indicator (KPI)

A metric that is crucial for understanding the current performance of an organization; also known as a key performance metric (KPM).

clustered-column (or clustered-bar) chart

A special type of column (bar) chart in which multiple bars are clustered in the same class to compare multiple variables; also known as a side-by-side-column (bar) chart.

stacked-column chart

A special type of column (bar) chart in which multiple variables appear on the same bar.

sparkline

A special type of line chart that indicates the trend of data but not magnitude. A sparkline does not include axes or labels.

geographic information system (GIS)

A system that merges maps and statistics to present data collected over different geographies.