What type of data does a scatter plot effectively illustrate?

A scatter plot is particularly effective for illustrating relationships between two quantitative variables. This data visualization technique allows users to plot data points on two axes, with each axis representing one of the quantitative variables. By observing the pattern of the plotted points, one can quickly ascertain whether a positive, negative, or no correlation exists between the variables.

For instance, if the scatter plot shows that as one variable increases, the other variable also increases, this suggests a positive correlation. Conversely, if one variable increases while the other decreases, a negative correlation is implied. The degree of closeness of the points to a line of best fit can also indicate the strength of the relationship.

In contrast, hierarchical data would be better represented using tree diagrams or organizational charts, as these formats focus on enabling the visualization of relationships within structured levels of data. Trends over time are typically illustrated using line charts, which effectively showcase changes and trends across a timeline. Categorical comparisons are more appropriately represented through bar charts or pie charts, as these formats can easily communicate differences among distinct groups or categories rather than continuous numerical data.