Pareto chart
Sorts categories (for example defect types) from most to least frequent and adds the cumulative percentage line, so the “vital few” stand out.
Menu: Graphs → More charts → Pareto chart…
When should I use it?
- Deciding which problem types to tackle first.
What are the assumptions?
- A category variable (and optionally a variable to sum, such as cost).
How do I run it in StatLab?
- Choose the category variable; optionally a variable to sum.
How do I read the output?
| Output | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bars | Counts or sums, largest first. |
| Line | Cumulative percent (right axis); the dashed line marks 80%. |
Worked example
On the practice survey dataset (File → Sample dataset), this command — which the dialog's Paste button also produces — runs the procedure:
PROC vizPareto /x=group /y='' /ref80=YES.
Output tables: Pareto Table.
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?
- Splitting one problem into many small categories, which hides it.