How would you describe the relationship between two variables in a scatter plot?

5 Data Visualization 5.6 Scatter plot

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In science, the scatterplot is widely used to present measurements of two or more related variables. It is particularly useful when the values of the variables of the y-axis are thought to be dependent upon the values of the variable of the x-axis.

In a scatterplot, the data points are plotted but not joined. The resulting pattern indicates the type and strength of the relationship between two or more variables. Chart 5.6.1 is an example of a scatterplot. Car ownership increases as the household income increases, showing that there is a positive relationship between these two variables.

Data table for Chart 5.6.1
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for Chart 5.6.1. The information is grouped by Income ($) (appearing as row headers), Percentage (%) (appearing as column headers).

The pattern of the data points on the scatterplot reveals the relationship between the variables. Scatterplots can illustrate various patterns and relationships, such as:

• a linear or non-linear relationship,
• a positive (direct) or negative (inverse) relationship,
• the concentration or spread of data points,
• the presence of outliers.

Linear or non-linear relationship

When the data points form a straight line on the graph, the relationship between the variables is linear, as shown in Chart 5.6.2, Part A. When the data points don’t form a line or when they form a line that is not straight, like in Chart 5.6.2, Part B, the relationships between variables is not linear.

Data table for Chart 5.6.2
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for Chart 5.6.2. The information is grouped by Variable X (appearing as row headers), Variable Y1 (Part A) and Variable Y2 (Part B) (appearing as column headers).

Positive or negative relationship

If the points cluster around a line that runs from the lower left to upper right of the graph area, then the relationship between the two variables is said to be positive or direct (Chart 5.6.3, Part A). If the points cluster around a line that runs from the upper left to the lower right of the graph area, then the relationship is said to be negative or inverse (Chart 5.6.3, Part B).

Data table for Chart 5.6.3
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for Chart 5.6.3. The information is grouped by Variable X (appearing as row headers), Variable Y1 (Part A) and Variable Y2 (Part B) (appearing as column headers).

Concentration or spread of data points

Data points can be close together (Chart 5.6.4, Part A) or spread widely across the graph area (Chart 5.6.4, Part B).

Data table for Chart 5.6.4
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for Chart 5.6.4. The information is grouped by Variable X1 (Part A) (appearing as row headers), Variable Y1 (Part A), Variable X2 (Part B) and Variable Y2 (Part B) (appearing as column headers).

Presence of outliers

Besides portraying relationships between the variables, a scatterplot can also show whether or not there are any outliers in the data. Outliers are data points that are far from the other points in the data set, like the two points in red in Chart 5.6.5.

Data table for Chart 5.6.5
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for Chart 5.6.5. The information is grouped by Variable X (appearing as row headers), Variable Y and Symbol (appearing as column headers).