2.10 Chapter 2 Major Takeaways

1. STOP: Think about whether a variable is categorical or quantitative. This informs the type of graphic and summaries that are appropriate.

2. The shape of a histogram tells you about the relationships between mean and median.

3. If you are describing a histogram, make sure to comment on the shape, center, spread, and outliers.

4. If you are describing a scatterplot, make sure to comment about the direction, form, strength, and unusual features.

5. Be vigilant for unusual points as they could be due to human error in the data collection, but do not automatically throw away unusual or outlying points. Think about whether they are feasible first.

6. Visualizations are just a starting place. Stop to notice what you learn and what questions you have about the data. Let that inform the next visualization you make.