Dot plot
Shows every case as a dot stacked along the axis (Wilkinson dot-density stacks), so small data sets are seen in full.
Menu: Graphs → More charts → Dot plot…
When should I use it?
- Small to moderate samples where every value matters.
What are the assumptions?
- A scale variable.
How do I run it in StatLab?
- Choose the variable and an optional row variable.
How do I read the output?
| Output | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Stacks | One dot per case; stacks are about one dot-width wide. |
Worked example
On the practice survey dataset (File → Sample dataset), this command — which the dialog's Paste button also produces — runs the procedure:
PROC vizDot /x=score /color='' /method=dotdensity.
Computed by StatLab's validated procedure code when this page was built. The example only illustrates the steps; choose variables that fit your own research question.
What are common mistakes?
- Using it for thousands of cases (dots become too small) — use a histogram.