Presenting Data

Question 1

Bar chart

Answer 1

• Commonly used but especially useful for time series data.
• Simple, quick, visual impact.
• Gaps should be left between bars or it is a histogram.

Question 2

Pie chart

Answer 2

• Used with percentage data to show parts as a whole such as age, ethnicity etc.
• Very visual.
• Too many sectors make it ineffective and it isn’t easy to read.

Question 3

Divided bar

Answer 3

• Used to show parts as a whole but parts must be kept in the same order.
• Not easy to compare and too many sectors make it ineffective.

Question 4

Proportional circles

Answer 4

• Area of the circle is proportional to square root of data.
• Can cope with large numbers.
• Time consuming to calculate and draw, not easy to compare.

Question 5

Proportional sphere

Answer 5

• Copes with very large numbers and visual.

- Time consuming to calculate and draw and hard to compare.

Question 6

Sketches

Answer 6

• Useful way of recording impression as well as showing its main features.
• Use in physical geography or rural investigations.
• Sometimes they are not used and should only be included if they are used effectively.
• Need to be annotated