People always ask: “Is there any relation between the factors in my data?” If you look at the data, a table, or a spreadsheet it can be hard to see connections and say how strong they are. That is where the relation map comes in handy. All the columns are shown on the map, and all the relations are visible at the same time. Not only is the strong and positive shown, but the weak and negative relations are pictured as well.
The Build-Up
Let’s have a closer look at the map. Each small bubble represents one of your columns with the original icon (remember, you can change this icon on the Smart Data View site by clicking on the icon, or in the Settings menu under the three dots at the top of the column). Some bubbles are closer to each other, and they form a small group that represents the strength of their relationship.
Move your cursor over a bubble, and it will show all of the relation lines connecting to other factors. The thicker the line, the stronger the correlation between the factors. The colors are also important. A white and thin blue line means a weak correlation, and a red and thick blue line means a strong correlation.
Functions
Clicking on the bubbles will instantly give you several Suggested Charts on the right side of your screen. But what happens if you click on a line? It is one-click magic and you will get charts based on the data from the two columns.
Zoom in and out to find the covered icons on the map. If you zoom in, you can grab the map with the cursor and move it in all directions just like the big picture. If you want to see the relation of certain columns, just highlight them on the left sidebar. You can search there as well. After selecting four or more columns, you will get a new relation map that includes only the selected data.
After the latest update, you can also use Filters on your relation map for more accurate results. Remember: filters are also applied to your relation matrix and table.
If you are satisfied with the results or you need more time, you can save and download the relation map, or you can add to your canvas and share it with your team.
Summary
As you can see, with the help of the relation map, it is very easy to explore relations between the factors in your data. It can help you to find the strongest relations and shows the weak ones.
Sometimes, the connection that you thought would the strongest is actually the weakest. The relation map always comes in handy in those situations.
We recommend analyzing the results of your survey and exploring the relations between the answers quickly and easily.
