Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) Practice Exam

What is the function of a scatter chart?

1. To show the frequency of an event

2. To compare two datasets

3. To illustrate relationships between two variables

4. To organize qualitative data

The correct answer is: To illustrate relationships between two variables

A scatter chart is primarily used to illustrate the relationship between two variables. Each point on the chart represents a data pair, with one variable plotted on the x-axis and the other on the y-axis. This visual representation allows observers to identify potential correlations, trends, or patterns between the two variables. For instance, if you are analyzing the relationship between temperature and ice cream sales, a scatter chart will help you see if an increase in temperature corresponds to an increase in sales, illustrating the direct relationship between these two factors. This function is particularly beneficial in fields such as statistics, economics, and the sciences, where understanding how different variables interact can lead to valuable insights. By visually displaying data points, scatter charts enable users to quickly assess the strength and nature of the relationship—whether it be positive, negative, or non-existent. While other chart types serve different purposes, a scatter chart's unique ability to show relationships makes it particularly effective for analysis in a wide array of applications. For example, showing the frequency of an event is better suited to histograms or bar charts, comparing multiple datasets typically requires line charts or grouped bar charts, and organizing qualitative data is more effectively done with pie charts or categorization frameworks.