Box plots are a type of graph that provide a useful way to visualize and compare statistical distributions. Box plots, also known as box-and-whisker plots, are common in descriptive statistics and are used to graphically represent the minimum, first quartile, median, third quartile, and maximum of a given set of data points (Wilkinson, 2005). Box plots are advantageous in that they provide a visual representation of the distribution of the data, which can be used to identify outliers, trends, and other features of the data.
Box plots are essentially a summary of the data, and the boxes themselves can be used to represent the range of values. The box plots are constructed from the five-number summary: the minimum, first quartile, median, third quartile, and maximum (Wilkinson, 2005). The box is constructed by plotting the first and third quartiles as the lower and upper ends of the box, respectively. The median is then plotted as a line in the middle of the box. The whiskers are lines extending from the ends of the box to the minimum and maximum values.
The box plot provides an efficient way to compare the distributions of multiple data sets. By comparing the boxes, one can quickly determine if any of the distributions are skewed or unusual. Outliers can also be easily identified, as they are represented by data points that lie outside the whiskers.
In summary, box plots are a useful and informative way to graphically represent the distribution of data. They provide a quick and efficient way to compare multiple data sets, visualize outliers, and identify any unusual trends in the data.
References
Wilkinson, L. (2005). The grammar of graphics. Springer Science & Business Media.