Chart Types and Their Uses

This resource explores the various chart types available on the Standard Insights platform, helping users understand and choose effective data visualization strategies.

Vertical Bar Chart

A vertical bar chart represents data with vertical bars whose heights correspond to the values they represent. This chart type is excellent for comparing the frequency or value across different categories.

• Usage: Ideal for comparing quantities across different categories.

• Not Recommended When: The data categories are too numerous, which could make the chart cluttered and hard to read.

Horizontal Bar Chart

A horizontal bar chart is similar to a vertical bar chart, but the bars are displayed horizontally. This may be beneficial when dealing with long category labels or many categories.

• Usage: Ideal when category names are extended or when many categories exist.

• Not Recommended When: The number of categories is small so that a vertical bar chart might offer a better visual comparison.

Stacked Bar Chart

A stacked bar chart displays bars divided into sub-parts to show the distribution of different sub-categories within each main category. This is useful for showing the composition of categories.

Usage: Ideal for showing the breakdown of a total across different categories. It's only available for Matrix questions.

Not Recommended When: The number of sub-categories is very high, making the chart cluttered and challenging to read.

Heatmap

A heatmap uses color to represent data values in a matrix format. It's useful for showing relationships between two variables or displaying large amounts of data.

Use: Great for showing the magnitude of data values across a matrix or showing correlations.

Not Recommended When: The data set is small or when precise numerical values are required, as the color gradation might not provide exact values.

Pie Chart

A pie chart displays data as slices of a circle, with each slice representing a proportion of the whole. This is useful for showing the relative sizes of parts to a whole.

Use: Best for showing proportions and percentages of a whole.

Not Recommended When: There are too many categories or when precise comparisons between categories are needed, as it can be difficult to compare the slices' sizes accurately.

Spider Chart (Radar Chart)

A spider chart, or radar chart, displays multivariate data as a two-dimensional chart with three or more quantitative variables represented on axes starting from the same point. It helps show strengths and weaknesses across multiple variables.

Use: Useful for showing multivariate data in a way that allows easy comparison of multiple variables.

Not Recommended When: The number of variables is large, making the chart cluttered and challenging to read or when precise data values are needed, as the visual representation might not convey exact values.