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──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────AE 15: Diverging bar charts for survey data
Suggested answers
Application exercise
Answers
We have seen four primary methods for constructing diverging bar charts for survey data.
- Stacked bar charts: all responses are plotted in a single bar, with negative responses on the left and positive responses on the right. Neutral responses are included in the middle of the bar.
- Diverging, with extra neutrals: negative and positive responses are plotted in separate bars on either side of the origin, with neutral responses in a distinct, separate subplot.
- Diverging, integrated neutrals: negative and positive responses are plotted in separate bars on either side of the origin, but neutral responses are centered around the origin.
- Split bars: each response category is plotted in a separate facet, with negative responses on the left and positive responses on the right. Neutral responses are plotted in their own facet in the middle.
Your turn: Evaluate each of the four methods for plotting diverging bar charts, specifically identifying how it enables (or does not) specific tasks.
| Stacked bar charts | Diverging, with extra neutrals | Diverging, integrated neutrals | Split bars | How important do we think it is? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Read percentage of values of and | 👍 | 👍 | 👎 | 👎 | Very important |
| Read percentage of values of | 👍 | 👎 | 👎 | 👍 | Important |
| Read percentage of values of | 👎 | 👍 | 👎 | 👍 | Important |
| Read percentage of values of | 👎 | 👍 | 👎 | 👍 | Not important |
| Read percentage of values of | 👎 | 👍 | 👎 | 👍 | Important |
| Read percentage of values of | 👍 (with double axis) | 👎 | 👎 | 👍 | Important |
| Read percentage of values of and | 👍 (with double axis) | 👍 | 👎 | 👎 | Very important |
Acknowledgments
- Exercise drawn from The case against diverging stacked bars by Lisa Charlotte Muth and Gregor Aisch
NoteSession information