Exercise ID: s1074 Title: Unleash the Power of Box and Whisker Plots in Tableau! From Scratch to Interpretation

Introduction

·       If: You need to visualize the distribution, median, and outliers of a numerical dataset across different categories.

·       Then: This lesson will teach you how to build a Box and Whisker plot from scratch using the Analytics pane and quickly via the "Show Me" menu.

·       Why: Mastering this chart type allows you to identify data skewness and statistical variations that standard bar charts often hide.

Phase 1: Building from Scratch

1.     Drag Sales from the Data pane to the Rows shelf.

2.     Place Segment on the Detail tile of the Marks card.

3.     Change the mark type to Circle and adjust the size as needed to reduce clutter.

4.     Widen the chart view to ensure there is enough room for mark labels.

Phase 2: Adding the Box Plot

1.     Open the Analytics pane and drag Box Plot onto the view, selecting the Cell option.

2.     Configuration: The whiskers are set by default to 1.5 times the Interquartile Range (IQR).

3.     Styling: Choose the "Modern" style, set the fill to blue, and customize the borders and whiskers for high visibility.

Phase 3: Labels and Interpretation

1.     Select Show Mark Labels from the Analysis menu.

2.     Adjust the label alignment to the right and use the space bar in the label editor to fine-tune placement.

3.     Interpretation Guide:

o   Maximum: The top green whisker.

o   Upper Quartile (75th Percentile): The top of the light blue shaded area.

o   Median: The line where the two shaded colors meet.

o   Lower Quartile (25th Percentile): The bottom of the darker shaded area.

o   Minimum: The lower green whisker.