Sankey charts are a powerful visual tool for analyzing complex data while highlighting relationships and connections between variables. Rather than relying on bar charts or pie charts, which can be difficult to interpret and often require extensive research, sankey charts make it easy to quickly identify patterns and trends.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how sankey charts work, what they’re best for, and some tips for creating and using them effectively.
Overview of sankey charts
A sankey chart is essentially a network diagram that uses flexible links to represent flow. The main idea behind using sankey charts is that all flow is represented by a link, which can either be directed (i.e. in one direction) or undirected (i.e. in both directions). This flexibility allows the user to show multiple types of relationships between variables, such as cause-and-effect, input-output, and more.
Sankey charts have several different configurations that can help clarify the meaning of the data, so it’s important to familiarize yourself with some basic concepts before trying to visualize complex data.
Sankey configurations
There are three main configurations for sankey charts: parallel, circular, and hybrid. Each configuration is designed to highlight a particular type of relationship between variables.
– Parallel: In a parallel sankey chart, the flow direction is fixed, and all links have the same length. This configuration is ideal for when you want to focus on the flow of data in one direction, but where it flows from is less important.
– Circular: In this configuration, the flow direction is allowed to be changed, and the length of the links is variable. This configuration is ideal for when you want to pay attention to both the flow of data in one direction and the direction from which it flows.
– Hybrid: Hybrid sankey chart combines both parallel and circular configurations, allowing the user to choose how to prioritize the direction of flow and the length of each link. This configuration is ideal for data that is sensitive to flow direction and magnitude at different stages of the data.
Applications of sankey charts
Sankey charts are well-suited for a variety of data visualization applications, including:
– Analyzing cause-and-effect relationships between variables
– Displaying data flow from one stage to another
– Identifying input-output relationships between variables
– Tracking progress of data as it moves through different stages of the data
– Visualizing dynamic data over time
Creating and using sankey charts
Sankey charts can be created in a variety of ways and can be modified to suit specific data analysis needs. Here are some tips for creating and using sankey charts effectively:
– Keep the flow direction clear: Be sure to mark the direction of flow for each variable in the chart. This will help users quickly identify the flow of data and its direction from one stage to another.
– Make use of color: Adding color to your sankey chart can help draw attention to specific variables and indicate the flow of data from one stage to another.
– Label the variables: Label each variable with a meaningful name that accurately represents its content. This will help users quickly identify what each variable represents and how it relates to other variables.
– Use conditional formatting: Sankey charts can be difficult to read at first glance, so use conditional formatting to highlight key variables or relationships.
– Use annotations: Annotations can be added to your sankey chart to describe the data, such as its origin, destination, or significant factors leading to changes.
Conclusion
Sankey charts can be a powerful tool for visualizing complex data and highlighting relationships and connections between variables. By understanding sankey chart configurations and creating and using sankey charts effectively, you can quickly identify patterns and trends, understand data flow, and better communicate your data analysis findings. By incorporating sankey charts in your data analysis workflow, you’ll be able to access valuable insights and insights quickly and easily.
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