Endless River: An Overview of Dataviz for #Categorical Data
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Let us explore some flow and network chart types that are ready-made for visual storytelling using categorical data As a data scientist, I am surrounded..
Conclusion
In summary, four types of charts for displaying flows between categorical data were discussed. Each chart type has its own unique quality for visual storytelling.
An Arc Diagram is useful at mapping 1:1 entity-relationships. Applications of such a chart include plotting the relationships of notes used in Beethoven’s Für Elise, to the character interactions in Les Misérables.
A chord diagram is used to display the strength of inter-relationships between categories. The thicker the chord, the stronger the relationship. One application of a chord diagram considers the relation between the count of words spoken between characters in the TV show Friends.
Sankey charts were shown to plot the multi-flow relationships between categories and can also be used to show the process flows between multi-component systems (e.g a steam engine)
Finally, a sunburst chart is used to plot event sequences and their proportional relationships as part of a wider set of relationships. Whether understanding the page-sequence flows on a website or the sequence of coffee flavours, a sunburst chart can cover it.
For all their differences, each chart types provides a unique way to tell a visual story with categorical data and their associated counts. Let the charts flow.