Which type of data visualization is most appropriate for showing the composition of values within a categorical variable?

• A. Histogram
• B. Scatter plot
• C. Pie chart
• D. Box plot

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the nature of the data involved. Here, the question asks about visualizing the composition of values within a categorical variable, which means we want to show how different categories contribute to a whole.
2. Step 2: Review the purpose of each visualization type: A histogram is used for showing the distribution of numerical data, a scatter plot shows relationships between two numerical variables, a box plot summarizes the distribution of numerical data through quartiles, and a pie chart displays proportions of categories as parts of a whole.
3. Step 3: Since the goal is to show the composition or proportion of categories within a single categorical variable, the visualization should clearly represent parts of a whole, making it easy to compare category sizes visually.
4. Step 4: Recognize that a pie chart divides a circle into slices where each slice represents a category's proportion relative to the total, which directly aligns with the goal of showing composition within a categorical variable.
5. Step 5: Conclude that among the options, the pie chart is the most appropriate visualization type for showing the composition of values within a categorical variable.