Module 8: Histogram

Number of bins in a histogram

• Nick Strayer: Histograms are fantastic, but make sure your bin-width/number is chosen well. This is the exact same data, plotted with different bin-widths. Notice that the pattern doesn't necessarily get clearer as bin num increases.
  • Interactive version on the web

Histogram vs. Boxplot

What are there strengths and weaknesses?

As a summarization method, a boxplot may be useful if you want to compare multiple (well-behaving) distributions. Boxplots will immediately and precisely show the median, the quartiles, and the rough range of the distribution.

On the other hand, a boxplot may hide details in the distribution, particularly when the distribution is far from a normal distribution.