Data Visualization Objectives and chart selection
What are objectives of visualization and what popularly known charts serve these visualization objectives?
3: Composition
When visualizing the composition of data, where you want to show the sum of a whole, the aggregation of parts, the breakup of the whole, or the relative contributions of segments or categories, various charts are available to effectively communicate these relationships. Choosing the appropriate chart depends on the nature of your data, the context, and the specific insights you want to convey about the composition of the whole. Consider factors such as readability, simplicity, and the ability to highlight key components:
Pie Charts: Display the proportion of parts to a whole. Pie charts effectively show the percentage distribution of categories within a total, making it easy to understand the relative contributions.
Doughnut Charts: Similar to pie charts but with a hole in the center. Doughnut charts share similarities with pie charts but allow for additional visual emphasis on the overall composition.
Stacked Bar Charts: Show the total and the composition of individual parts. Stacked bar charts visually represent the cumulative total while breaking it down into segments, allowing for easy comparison.
Stacked Area Charts: Similar to stacked bar charts but using areas instead of bars. Stacked area charts emphasize the cumulative total and highlight the contribution of each segment over time or along a continuous axis.
Treemaps: Display hierarchical data structures and the relative size of categories. Treemaps visually represent the hierarchy and the proportion of each category in relation to the total.
100% Stacked Bar Charts: Show the composition of parts as percentages of the whole. 100% stacked bar charts emphasize the relative proportions within the total, allowing for easy comparison of contributions.
Waterfall Charts: Display incremental changes and the cumulative effect on a total. Waterfall charts are effective for illustrating how individual components contribute to the total and showcasing the flow of values.
Sunburst Charts: Represent hierarchical data in a radial layout. Sunburst charts provide an engaging way to visualize hierarchical composition, especially when dealing with nested categories.
Donut Charts: Similar to pie charts but with a hole in the center. Donut charts offer a variation on pie charts and can be visually appealing while still communicating the composition of parts.
Funnel Charts: Show stages in a process and the conversion rates between stages. Funnel charts are useful for illustrating how a whole is progressively reduced or transformed through different stages.
Radial Bar Charts: Display bars arranged in a circular pattern. Radial bar charts are a creative alternative for illustrating composition, especially when dealing with a small number of categories.
Bubble Charts: Purpose: Visualize three dimensions, with the size of the bubble representing a third variable. Bubble charts can be adapted to show the composition of parts by varying the bubble sizes based on their relative magnitudes.
