What are common methods for data visualisation?

Common methods for data visualisation include bar charts, line graphs, pie charts, scatter plots, and maps.

Bar charts are great for comparing different categories or groups. For example, you might use a bar chart to show the population of different countries. Each bar represents a country, and the height of the bar shows the population size. This makes it easy to see which country has the largest or smallest population at a glance.

Line graphs are useful for showing changes over time. If you wanted to track the average temperature in a city over a year, you could use a line graph. The x-axis (horizontal) would represent the months, and the y-axis (vertical) would represent the temperature. By plotting points for each month and connecting them with a line, you can easily see trends, such as whether temperatures are rising or falling.

Pie charts are perfect for showing proportions or percentages. Imagine you conducted a survey on favourite ice cream flavours. A pie chart could show what percentage of people prefer chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry. Each "slice" of the pie represents a different flavour, and the size of the slice shows how popular it is.

Scatter plots are used to show the relationship between two variables. For instance, you might want to see if there's a link between hours studied and exam scores. Each point on the scatter plot represents one student's hours studied and their exam score. If the points tend to go upwards from left to right, it suggests that more hours studied might lead to higher scores.

Maps are essential in geography for showing spatial data. They can display anything from population density to rainfall distribution. Different colours or symbols on the map can represent various data points, making it easy to see patterns and relationships across different regions.

These visualisation methods help geographers and students like you to understand and analyse data more effectively, making complex information easier to grasp.