For nominal data with several categories and counts, which graph is most appropriate?

For nominal data with several categories and counts, which graph is most appropriate?

• A. Bar Graph
• B. Histogram
• C. Polygon
• D. Either histogram or polygon

Answer: (A)

Nominal data consist of categories with no natural order, and we want to see how many observations fall into each category. A bar graph is ideal because it shows each category as a separate bar, with height representing the frequency or proportion for that category. The distinct, non-touching bars emphasize that the categories are discrete and unordered, making comparisons clear. Histograms are designed for continuous quantitative data binned into intervals, so they imply a sense of order and continuity that nominal categories don’t have. A polygon is built from histogram data and connects points with a line, which also suggests a continuous distribution and an underlying scale. Therefore, for several categories with counts, the bar graph most accurately and clearly conveys the information.

Nominal data consist of categories with no natural order, and we want to see how many observations fall into each category. A bar graph is ideal because it shows each category as a separate bar, with height representing the frequency or proportion for that category. The distinct, non-touching bars emphasize that the categories are discrete and unordered, making comparisons clear.

Histograms are designed for continuous quantitative data binned into intervals, so they imply a sense of order and continuity that nominal categories don’t have. A polygon is built from histogram data and connects points with a line, which also suggests a continuous distribution and an underlying scale. Therefore, for several categories with counts, the bar graph most accurately and clearly conveys the information.