Line vs. Bar Graph: When to Use Which?
When making a graph, the first consideration is the type of graph to be used. In the case of this virtual lab, the question is whether a line graph or bar graph is appropriate. There are no set rules for choosing between these types of graphs, but there are a few things to consider.
- Bar graphs are used when the X-axis independent variable is qualitative, or in other words contains categories, groups, or intervals.
- Line graphs are used when the X-axis independent variable is a continuous scale of quantitative values.
- Bar graphs often show what proportion of a given number of cases fall into a discrete set of categories, groups, or intervals.
- Line graphs are often used to visualize a trend in data over time or some other consistent scale.