Choosing the best way to show categorical data is really important for sharing your findings. Let’s take a closer look!

Know Your Categories

First, think about how many categories you have.

Are there just a few, or quite a lot?

For example:

• Few categories (3-5): Use bar charts or pie charts. These are great for making easy comparisons.

Imagine you want to show the sales of your favorite ice cream flavors like Vanilla, Chocolate, and Strawberry.

A pie chart shows the parts of the whole, while a bar chart can show the actual sales numbers.

• Many categories (10+): A bar chart works best here, and it’s better to use a horizontal layout. This helps keep things from looking messy.

For example, if you want to show ice cream sales by each state, a horizontal bar chart can clearly show all the states without being confusing.

Think About the Comparison

Next, consider what kind of comparison you want to make:

• Comparison across categories: Bar charts or column charts are the way to go.

• Distribution within categories: A stacked bar chart can show how different parts fit into the whole.

For instance, if you survey people about their pets, you could show what percentage owns cats compared to dogs within different income groups.

In summary, choose the right type of chart based on your data and the story you want to share!