TYPES OF GRAPHS

GRAPHS USED IN
BIOSTATISTICS

NIDHI
MSB/17/154

NIDHI
MSB/17/154
 What is a “GRAPH” ?

• “GRAPH” is Two-dimensional drawing showing a relationship (usually between two

set of numbers) by means of a line, curve, a series of bars, or other symbols . Also
called plot.
• A graph is a visual representation of a relationship between, but not restricted to, two
variables.

• A graph commonly consists of two axes called the x-axis (horizontal) and y-axis
(vertical). Each axis corresponds to one variable. The axes are labeled with different
names, such as Price and Quantity.

• The place where the two axes intersect is called the origin. The origin is also
identified as the point (0,0).
Common use Of Graphs.
• Graphs provide a powerful way of summarising data and presenting them in a way that
most people find easy to read.
• Why use graphs to present data?
Because they...
-are quick and direct.
-highlight the most important facts.
-facilitate understanding of the data.
-can convince readers.
-can be easily remembered.
• Statistical graphics are useful tools for exploring data, aiding inference and
communicating results
– Display large data coherently
– Maximize the ability to detect unusual features
– Facilitate communication with: regulators, investigators, collaborators, upper
Management, etc.

…
Cont
Types of Graphs

• The choice of an appropriate graph or chart depends on what information you are
trying to convey.
• There are many different types of graphs used in Biostatistics that can be used to
convey information, including:

• BAR GRAPH,
• HISTOGRAMS,
• PIE CHARTS,
• BOX PLOT,
• SCATTER PLOT,
• CUMULATIVE DISTRIBUTION CURVE,
• DENDOGRAM.
 1. BAR GRAPH
• A bar chart consists of a grid and some vertical or horizontal columns (bars).
Each column represents quantitative data.
• Bar Graph is useful when there is a numerical comparison.
• A bar graph is very similar to a Histograms but is used for Categorical data.
• Rectangular bars are used to represent categories of data, and the height of each
bar is proportional to the frequency or relative frequencies.
• All the bars are drawn with same width, and the bars can be presented either
vertically or horizontally.
• Bar graphs enable comparison across several categories, making it easy to
identify frequently and infrequently occurring categories.
 2. HISTOGRAMS
• Histograms are yet another graphic way of presenting data to show the distribution of
the observations.
• It is one of the most common forms of graphical presentation of a frequency
distribution.
• A histogram is constructed by representing the measurements or observations that are
grouped on a horizontal scale, the interval frequencies on a vertical scale, and drawing
rectangles whose bases equal the class intervals and whose heights are determined by
the corresponding class frequencies.
• No regular spaces between the bars. Histograms are used to identify the general shape
of distribution of the data.
 3. BOX PLOT
• A box plot displays summary statistics for the distribution of values for a variable.
• The outer bounds of the box represent the first and third quartiles.
• The line inside the box represents the median.
• The markers outside the box, referred to as outliers, represent data points that are
outside of the 25th and 75th percentiles.
• Box plots reveal the main features of a batch of data, i.e. how the data are spread out.
• Any boxplot is a graph of the five-number summary:
-MINIMUM
-1ST QUARTILE
-MEDIAN
-3RD QUARTILE
-MAXIMUM
with suspected outliers plotted individually.
The boxplot consists of a rectangular box, which represents the middle half of all
scores (between Q1 and Q3).
• Approximately one-fourth of the values should fall between the minimum and Q1,
and approximately one-fourth should fall between Q3 and the maximum.

• A line in the box marks the median.

• Lines called whiskers extend from the box out to the minimum and maximum
scores that are not possible outliers.

• If an observation falls more than 1.5x IQR outside of the box, it is plotted
individually as an outlier.
 Box-and-whisker plots
Whisker Box Whisker

0 10 20 30 40 50

Minimum
value (17) Maximum
Median (36) value (48)
Lower Quartile –
median of all numbers Upper Quartile – median
in the list to the left of of all numbers to the right
the median of the median
(25+30)/2 = 27.5 (40+40)/2 = 40
 4. SCATTERPLOT

• A scatterplot is a two- or three-dimensional plot that shows the joint variation of

two (or three) variables from a group of observations.
• The coordinates of each point in the plot correspond to the data values for a single
observation.
• A scatterplot makes it possible to observe an overall pattern, or trend, in the
relationship between two variables.
• Also, the strength of the trend as well as striking deviations from the trend are
evident.
• To show the relationship between two numerical values, such data are called
bivariate data, scatterplot is used.
 5. Cumulative Distribution Plot
• A cumulative distribution plot shows the percentage of subjects with a change
value equal to or less than the value on the x-axis.

• These distributions can be graphed using connected points, bars, or steps.

• A cumulative distribution plot may need a footnote and additional text in the
body of the label describing how to read the graph.

• For example, the following text could accompany the graph shown above:
“Approximately 50% of the patients in each group had a decrease of at least 2
mg/dL at endpoint.”
• This graph shows the percentage of subjects (y-axis) attaining a change from baseline
less than or equal to the value on the x-axis. A curve that shifts to the left indicates a
better response.
 6. Dendrogram

• A dendrogram is a tree diagram frequently used to illustrate the arrangement of

the clusters produced by hierarchical clustering.
• The term “dendrogram” is used in numerical taxonomy for any graphical drawing
or diagram giving a treelike description of a taxonomic system. More generally, a
dendrogram is a two-dimensional diagram representing a tree of relationships,
whatever their nature.
• The representation of a taxonomic system by a dendrogram is particularly suitable
in connection with a cluster analysis applied to investigate the structure of the
corresponding operational taxonomic units, such as individual patients or case
histories initially used to construct disease classifications.
• This becomes apparent when it is desirable to interpret the results of the analysis
in terms of a natural non overlapping taxonomic hierarchy. The usual basis for a
cluster analysis is a resemblance matrix, its rows and columns referring to the
operational taxonomic units, and its entries being the estimates of the
resemblances between the corresponding units.
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