Dot Plot

It is a graphical representation used to present data in the form of discrete dots or small circles on a scale known as a dot plot. Each dot represents a single observation or the frequency of a particular value in the dataset.

It is similar to a histogram or bar graph, as the height of the bar is shown using dots. Dot plots are effective for visualizing medium-sized datasets, making them easier to interpret.
 

There are different features of dot plots you might not have known. Let’s learn some key properties of dot plots:

• Dot plots consist of two axes, in which one represents the groups and the other shows the number of data points in each group.

• These are used in displaying medium-sized quantitative datasets.

• The dots in the plot denote a data point, and the number of dots on top of a specific value indicates its frequency.

• The dots in the graph can form patterns like symmetry, outliers, and skewness.

• The tallest stack of dots represents the most frequently occurring value.

The dot plot is made up of dots on a graph with an x and y-axis. It is often structured with one axis showing the range of values and the second axis representing the number of data points in each category. To improve the visualization, dots can be positioned either horizontally or vertically. 
 

A dot plot helps in representing data in simple dot form. To create a dot plot, we can apply the following steps:

• To plot the numerical values, ensure you organize them in ascending order.

• Select a scale for the plot, which should be ideal for the range of data used.

• Draw and label the x-axis (horizontal line) correctly to plot the data points.

• For each data point, place a dot above the x-axis value associated with it.

• Repeat the dots vertically whenever the data point is shared by two or more groups.

• Label the dot plot neatly to define what is displayed.

• The measured variable should be represented on the x-axis.

The dot plots use dots to graphically represent the data. They come in two different types. The two significant dot plots are as follows:

Cleveland Dot Plot: Cleveland dot plots are similar to bar charts as they present the variable as continuous rather than categorized. However, unlike bar charts that use bar height to indicate frequency, Cleveland dot plots represent values using position. They are useful when multiple variables are to be plotted.

Wilkinson Dot Plot: Leland Wilkinson devised the Wilkinson dot plot. The Wilkinson dot plot serves as a model for the dot plot format. It organizes data similarly to a histogram. Unlike a standard histogram, the Wilkinson dot plot displays data as individual points. In contrast, a histogram organizes the data into bins. Wilkinson's method ensures precise dot placement instead of evenly spaced stacking.

Dot plots and line plots are two different ways to represent the data in graphical form. The key differences between them are given below:

Dot plots are widely utilized in numerous fields to represent medium-sized datasets. Let’s learn how it helps in making data-oriented decisions:

• Dot plots are used to represent the test scores or attendance of students in the form of dots.

• Businesses commonly use dot plots to represent customer feedback. For example: dot plot on a scale of 1 to 5 to show the ratings.

• Doctors use dot plots to monitor patients’ medical conditions. For example: dot plots on blood sugar levels or the daily steps taken.

• While playing with friends, students can make a dot plot to record the game scores. 

• Also, by using dot plots, students can keep a record of how many books they read each week.