Table of Contents
A scatterplot is a type of graph that displays the relationship between two variables by plotting data points on a Cartesian plane. Each data point represents a specific value for both variables, and the position of the point on the graph shows how the two variables are related. Scatterplots are commonly used to identify patterns or trends in data, and they can be created using various software programs or by hand using graph paper. The process involves plotting the data points, labeling the axes, and adding a title and any necessary labels or annotations. Overall, scatterplots are a useful tool for visualizing and analyzing data.
Scatterplots are used to display the relationship between two variables.
Suppose we have the following dataset that shows the weight and height of players on a basketball team:
The two variables in this dataset are height and weight.
To make a scatterplot, we place the height along the x-axis and the weight along the y-axis. Each player is then represented as a dot on the scatterplot:
Scatterplots help us see relationships between two variables. In this case, we see that height and weight have a positive relationship. As height increases, weight tends to increase as well.
Interpreting Scatterplots
Scatterplots help us see the relationship (positive, negative, none) between two variables as well as the strength of that relationship (weak, strong).
Strong, positive relationship: As the variable on the x-axis increases, the variable on the y-axis increases as well. The dots are packed together tightly, which indicates a strong relationship.
Weak, positive relationship: As the variable on the x-axis increases, the variable on the y-axis increases as well. The dots are fairly spread out, which indicates a weak relationship.
No relationship: There is no clear relationship (positive or negative) between the variables.
Strong, negative relationship: As the variable on the x-axis increases, the variable on the y-axis decreases. The dots are packed tightly together, which indicates a strong relationship.
Weak, negative relationship: As the variable on the x-axis increases, the variable on the y-axis decreases. The dots are fairly spread out, which indicates a weak relationship.
Scatterplot Generator
Use the free to generate a scatterplot for a dataset simply by entering data values.