Data is everything you encounter on this planet. It rules our businesses, workplaces, and academic institutions. It is why you can communicate findings in your reports or research.
The best way to deal with data is to visualize it in a way that it’s easily digestible. For instance, you want to establish a relationship between two essential variables in your business. Which visualization would you go for?
You guessed right. A Scatter Diagram is the most suitable.
This blog will help you learn what is Scatter Diagram and how to use it. It will give you all the answers you need.
Let’s get down to business.
A Scatter Diagram is also called a Scatter Plot or an x-y graph. This type of chart is designed to express the relationship between two data points or variables.
Let’s explain the Scatter Diagram.
You have to plot two data points along the x and y-axes. The y-axis displays the dependent variable of your data, while the x-axis shows the independent variable.
However, you cannot always abide by this rule. Why? Because in some Scatter Diagrams, you can find the x and y-axes displaying independent variables.
Now you have a grasp of the Scatter Diagram definition. Let’s learn about its various types in the next section.
One classifies Scatter Diagrams based on their slope type and correlation. The following are the various types of Scatter Diagrams:
In this Scatter Diagram type, the dependent variables are displayed on the y-coordinate, and you mark the data as a dot. Still, you can show your independent variables on the x-coordinate.
When you carefully examine this Scatter Diagram type, you will see that the dots follow a linear pattern. All you have to do is to join them using a straight line.
Below is an example of a Scatter Diagram with a strong correlation.
The dots’ straight-line alignment shows a strong relationship between your data points. Experts term it a Scatter Diagram with a high degree of correlation.
Experts term this Scatter Plot type with a low degree of correlation. The data points are somehow non-linear, and it can be challenging to use a straight line.
Your data points appear as dots and are usually close to each other. A Scatter Diagram with moderate correlation will appear as shown below.
This Scatter Diagram type has no degree of alignment or correlation. In most instances, your data points scatter all over the diagram, which can prove difficult to draw a straight line.
It becomes impossible for you to establish a relationship between your variables. A Scatter Diagram with no correlation appears, as shown below.
Google Sheets is one of the most widely used spreadsheets in the world. You can use it to create a visualization on your data such as Scatter Diagram and many more. But sometimes it becomes a bit tricky task to achieve it.
For saving your precious time, you can supercharge your Google Sheets with a third-party add-on called ChartExpo.
This add-on has numerous charts and graphs templates that will help you create amazing visualizations.
Let’s use an example to create a Scatter Diagram with ChartExpo. It will significantly help you learn what is Scatter Diagram.
Assume you want to analyze the performance of various individuals in your department.
First, you will create a table, as shown below.
Department | Name | Age | Performance score | Punctuality |
Research and development | Timothy | 24 | 83 | 93 |
Research and development | Richard | 26 | 39 | 95 |
Research and development | Michael | 29 | 45 | 74 |
Research and development | Paul | 23 | 98 | 59 |
Research and development | Bowles | 38 | 46 | 43 |
Research and development | Christopher | 32 | 57 | 64 |
Research and development | David | 45 | 66 | 60 |
Research and development | Joseph | 22 | 78 | 75 |
Research and development | Patrick | 26 | 36 | 56 |
Research and development | Pryor | 40 | 73 | 43 |
Accounts and Finance | Johnson | 60 | 87 | 83 |
Accounts and Finance | Colbert | 55 | 67 | 90 |
Accounts and Finance | Bowman | 45 | 30 | 40 |
Accounts and Finance | Francis | 50 | 98 | 60 |
Accounts and Finance | Collins | 42 | 61 | 82 |
Accounts and Finance | Jonathan | 30 | 22 | 80 |
Accounts and Finance | Eric | 60 | 63 | 89 |
Accounts and Finance | Pruden | 29 | 61 | 69 |
Accounts and Finance | Thompson | 48 | 84 | 78 |
Accounts and Finance | Frank | 40 | 21 | 76 |
Sales and marketing | Jerome | 22 | 99 | 81 |
Sales and marketing | Ronald | 28 | 33 | 65 |
Sales and marketing | Walker | 30 | 59 | 81 |
Sales and marketing | Guerrier | 44 | 75 | 49 |
Sales and marketing | Carlson | 33 | 96 | 51 |
Sales and marketing | Petersen | 24 | 98 | 58 |
Sales and marketing | Boyle | 29 | 58 | 70 |
Sales and marketing | Rendon | 36 | 56 | 80 |
Sales and marketing | Gomez | 44 | 80 | 77 |
Sales and marketing | Winship | 27 | 77 | 90 |
As you can see, the chart is still complete. You must add a title and a trend line. You still need to perform edits as described below.
Click on the Edit Chart button.
Click on the highlight pen and add the title of the chart.
Click on the highlight pen and go to Box, where you can choose colors. You can also change the colors of any other legend.
Click on the Save button to apply all changes.
You can display trend lines for the department.
Click on the Chart setting at the top right of the window.
Editing colors and adding trend lines can help you identify insights from your Scatter Diagram.
Before we get to the insights, here are some elements you need to know.
When you interpret a Scatter Chart, you can track trends by moving from left to right.
If the pattern moves from left to right in an upward trend, this shows there is a positive relationship between your data points. This shows the value of the x-axis increases as the value of the y-axis increases.
If there is a downward trend as you move from left to right, it shows a negative relationship between your x and y-coordinates. That is to show the x-axis increases as the value of the y-axis decreases.
Sometimes, a linear pattern in your Scatter Diagram does not imply any dependency type between your data points.
You should use a Scatter plot if you want to observe if there are actual relationships between your variables.
You should use a Scatter Plot if there are numerical figure pairs and you want to establish the value of each variable.
You should use a Scatter Plot if you have multiple values of dependent variables for each independent variable.
A Scatter Diagram displays patterns of your raw data.
You can use it to show correlational relationships. For instance, you can use it to establish a correlational relationship between performance and age in your organization.
The chart shows the relationship between two variables. For instance, you can use it to identify the relationship between conversion metrics and click-through rates in digital marketing.
A Scatter Diagram is a chart you can use to analyze relationships or correlations between two variables.
You can plot the two variables on the y and x-axis. The intersection point between the y and x-axis indicates the relationship between your variables.
A Scatter Diagram is the most suitable for showing a relationship between two variables. The dots in your Scatter Diagram show the value of your data points.
You can also use a Scatter Plot to identify correlational relationships in your raw data.
Positive correlation: the dots in this Scatter Diagram align straight.
Negative correlation: the dots are somehow non-linear because they are close to each other but not in a straight line.
No Correlation: the dots are scattered all over, and there is no relationship between your variables.
In a nutshell, this blog has helped you learn what is Scatter Diagram.
You have learned about the Scatter plot definition and the various types of Scatter Plots.
The various types of Scatter Plots we have covered include the following:
You have grasped how to create a Scatter Plot with Google Sheets. It requires that you use a third-party add-on called ChartExpo to create an incredible Scatter Plot.
We have covered how to interpret a Scatter Plot and where to use it. We have learned the various advantages and disadvantages of using a Scatter Plot.
The bottom line is you now understand what is Scatter Diagram and how to create it.
Now it’s your turn you create a Scatter Diagram using ChartExpo. Start a 7-day free trial today and make an irresistible chart for your business.