Scatterplots

Written by tutor Sarah C.

Scatterplots are special graphs showing the relationship, or correlation, between two

different variables. Scatterplots are very similar to line graphs, except the data points

shown are not necessarily spaced consistently and are not connected by a line. Consider

the scatterplot shown below. What does it tell us?

This scatterplot shows the relationship between two variables, or factors: height and shoe

size. There is not a perfect relationship between the two variables, which means we are

unable to predict with certainty a person’s shoe size from simply knowing his or her

weight. Let’s consider a specific portion of the scatterplot: heights that related to size

5 shoes. Individuals of three different heights (54, 56, and 57 inches) each wear size 5

shoes. If we look even closer, we can see that second person with a height of 57 inches

wears size 6 shoes instead of size 5 shoes. This highlights, again our inability to use a

scatterplot to form a definite prediction for the value of one variable based on the value of

another.

So, if we cannot use scatterplots to predict specific outcome values, what is the benefit of

using a scatterplot? Let’s look a little bit closer at the entire scatterplot. We have already

discussed that a range of heights are related to wearing size 5 shoes. Does this hold true

in all sizes? Look closely at shoe sizes 6, 7.5, and 8. In all shoe sizes, we see that shoe

size is related to a variation in height.

Now, let’s broaden our focus to look at the entire scatterplot. Do you see any trends? Is

there an overall relationship between height and shoe size? Yes! When we look at the

entire graph, we can see that as height increases, shoe size generally increases as well.

Does this information fit with your existing knowledge of height and shoe size? Sure it

does!

By simply looking at one example scatterplot, we have learned that scatterplots can help

us identify the relationship between two variables.

Scatterplots Practice Quiz