Scatter Diagram

Understanding Scatter Diagrams

• A scatter diagram is a type of graph used to represent the relationship between two variables.
• Each point on the graph is plotted based on both its horizontal (x-axis) and vertical (y-axis) values.
• This kind of graph is also known as a scatter plot or scatter graph.

Constructing Scatter Diagrams

• Scatter diagrams have two axes which represent the two variables being compared.
• Each dot in the scatter diagram represents a single data point in relation to both variables.
• These points are not connected like they might be in a line graph.

Correlation in Scatter Diagrams

• Scatter diagrams allow for visual interpretation of correlation between variables.
• A pattern moving from the lower-left to the upper-right indicates a positive correlation.
• A pattern moving from the upper-left to the lower-right indicates a negative correlation.
• If there is no pattern and the points seem randomly distributed, this indicates no correlation.

Using Scatter Diagrams to Make Predictions

• Scatter diagrams can also be used to make predictions about future data points. This is known as extrapolation.
• Predictions should be made cautiously as they are not 100% accurate and become less reliable the further they are from the data points on the graph.

Limitations of Scatter Diagrams

• Scatter diagrams only show the correlation between two variables, not causation.
• They can be misleading if there are too few data points or outliers.
• They cannot accurately represent more than two variables on one graph.

Advantages of Scatter Diagrams

• Scatter diagrams provide a visual representation of the relationship between two variables which can aid understanding.
• They allow for the detection of patterns and trends in data.
• They can be used in conjunction with other statistical techniques for more precise data analysis.