Column Graph

A column graph summarizes categorical data by presenting parallel vertical bars with a height (and hence area) proportionate to specific quantities of data for each category. This type of graph can be useful in comparing two or more distributions of nominal- or ordinal-level data.

Developing Column Graphs

A column graph can and should provide an easy-to-interpret visual representation of a frequency or percentage distribution of a single (or multiple) variable(s). Column graphs present a series of vertical equal-width rectangles, each with a height proportional to the frequency (or percentage) of a specific category of observations. Categories are labeled on the x-axis (the horizontal axis), and frequencies are labeled on the y-axis (the vertical axis). For example, a column graph that displays the partisan distribution of a single ...

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