Different Questions, Different Visuals
The visualization you choose should directly align with the question you're trying to answer. This guide demonstrates how the same dataset can be visualized in multiple ways depending on the type of inquiry you're pursuing.
Each example below shows a different type of question paired with the most appropriate visualization to address that specific analytical need.
This dataset contains information about different academic departments over multiple years, including enrollment figures, retention rates, GPAs, faculty counts, and departmental budgets.
| Department | Year | Enrollment | Retention Rate | Avg GPA | Faculty Count | Budget |
|---|
Explore how different visualization types address specific analytical questions using the same dataset.
What are the current enrollment numbers for each department in 2023?
Bar charts work well for showing discrete values across categories. They provide a clear visual comparison of enrollment numbers across different departments.
How does average GPA vary across departments in 2022?
Grouped bar charts allow for multi-dimensional comparisons, showing GPA values across departments while enabling direct comparison between them.
How has retention changed over time for each department?
Line charts excel at showing changes over time, making them perfect for visualizing trends in retention rates across multiple years.
What share of total enrollment does each department contribute in 2023?
Donut charts effectively show proportional relationships, helping viewers understand how each department contributes to the total enrollment.
Is there a relationship between faculty count and average GPA across programs?
Scatter plots reveal potential relationships between variables, with bubble size representing a third dimension (enrollment) for added context.
Which departments had the highest GPA in 2021?
Sorted bar charts emphasize rank order, making it easy to identify which departments perform best on specific metrics like GPA.
Which department had unusually low retention in 2022?
Color-highlighted charts draw attention to outliers or exceptions in the data, helping viewers quickly identify departments that deviate from the norm.
If trends continue, what will enrollment be for each department in 2025?
Line charts with projected segments help visualize future trends based on historical data, supporting planning and resource allocation decisions.
Why did enrollment in Chemistry drop between 2021 and 2023?
Combination charts overlay multiple metrics (enrollment and budget) to help diagnose potential causes of observed trends or changes.
Which departments are below 80% retention in 2023?
Threshold charts with color indicators make it easy to identify which departments meet or fall short of important performance benchmarks.