This document provides information on different types of charts and graphs that can be used to display statistical data in the media. It discusses frequency tables, bar charts, pie charts, histograms, line charts, and other types of graphs such as multiple bar graphs, stack plots, geographic data displays, 3D graphs, and pictographs. The document emphasizes that all graphs should include a clear title, scaled axes, and legend; and it provides examples of qualitative and quantitative data that could be represented in different graph formats.

1. Chapter 5 – Section D
Charts / Graphs Used in the Media

2. Ways to Display Statistical Data
• Long papers and paragraphs
– Not the best way
• Tables
• Graphs and Charts

3. Frequency Table
• Contains two columns
– A category
– A frequency (a total, a percent, or a fraction)
Grade Frequency Cumul.
A 5 5
B 10 15
C 3 18
Below C 2 20
Grade Frequency Cumul.
90 -99 8 8
80 – 89 10 18
70 – 79 7 25
The grouping of numbers is called a BIN

4. Another Frequency Table
Movie Reviews for “Harry Potter”
Rating Frequency Relative Frequency Cumulative Frequency
* * * 5 5/ 10 = 50% 5
* * 3 3 / 10 = 30% 5+ 3 = 8
* 2 2 / 10 = 20% 5 + 3 + 2 = 10
Total: 10 Total: 100%

5. All Graphs and Charts Should Have:
• A title or caption
– Describes what is being shown and (possibly) the
source of the data
• A horizontal scale and title
– This shows the categories of the data
• A vertical scale or title
– This shows the numbers on the scale
• A legend (usually a color scheme)
– This indicates what each color represents

6. • Qualitative Data
– Deals with descriptions
– Can be observed and is “non-numerical”
– Based on “quality” (color, appearance, rating, etc.)
• Quantitative Data
– Deals with numbers
– Can be measured and/or counted
– Based on “quantity” (weight, cost, ages, etc.)
• Be careful: Just because data is represented by
“a number” does not automatically make it
“quantitative”
The Data “Categories ” or “Types”

7. • Marital status of hospital nurses
• Colors of cars in CCC parking lot
• A person’s movie rating(four stars, three stars)
• Ethnicity (Black, Latino, White)
• Level of education (high school, college)
• Political party preference
Qualitative Data Examples

8. • Time it takes to run a kilometer
• Weight of lobsters in a tank at a restaurant
• Ounces of fruit in a smoothie
• Seating capacity of football stadium
• Age of people living in nursing home
• Number of people jailed for drug possession
Quantitative Data Examples

9. Bar Chart, Pie Chart
Both are used to show qualitative data
The bars should have “spaces”
between them.
The pie chart percentages should
always add up to 100% (with
rounding off)

10. Histogram and Line Chart
Both are used to show quantitative data
The widths of the bars represent
“bin ranges” – therefore the bars
should touch each other.

11. The Multiple Bar Graph
• Contains two sets of bars
• Used to compare two sets of data

12. The Stack Plot
• The “thickness” determines the data value
• Use “subtraction” and “totals” in this graph

13. Geographic Data
• Uses a map to display data
• Use the legend to determine information

14. 3 – D Graphs
• “Should” represent three pieces of information
• Be careful: Some 3-D graphs only show “two”
pieces of info -- and should be 2-dimensional!

15. Pictographs
• Often embellished with artwork to make the
display more attractive / attracting

16. Combination Graphs
These graphs can combine pie charts, bar charts, line charts, and data into
a graph that can be very complex.

17. Careful When Reading Graphs / Charts
• Graphic (picture size) is often
distorted and creates
incorrect conclusions
• Watch the number scale
(Should it begin at zero?)
• Don’t be distracted by the
“cosmetic touch”

18. To represent qualitative data
• Use a bar chart
• Use a pie chart
• Both should contain the following:
– A title
– Vertical and horizontal scales and titles
– A legend (tells what each color represents)

19. To represent quantitative data
• Use a histogram
• Use a line chart