Use the Correlations panel to discover the relationships between variables in your data. After you build any kind of Graphext project, you'll be able to generate correlation charts that reveal how the values belonging to one variable are associated with the values belonging to another.

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“Correlation doesn't imply causation, but it does waggle its eyebrows suggestively and gesture furtively while mounting 'look over there'.”

‍- Randall Munroe

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To read up on the key concepts behind Correlations - check out this article in our technical docs.

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Reading Correlation Charts

Charts in your Correlations panel reveal the density of your dataset at points where values from two variables meet. Your y-axis represents values from the variable in your search bar and the x-axis represents values from the correlated variable - labelled in the top right of each card.

The blue circles in your correlation charts represent the density of data at each value intersection. Bigger and brighter circles represent a higher number of data points at an intersection whereas lower and duller circles represent fewer data points at an intersection.

A strong positive correlation would be signified by a trend of big & bright circles moving diagonally upwards from left to right 📈

A strong negative correlation would be signified by a trend of big & bright circles moving diagonally upwards from right to left 📉

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Measuring Correlation

You can determine the strength of correlation in Graphext Correlation charts by examining the statistic in the top right of each card representing the relevance of the variable. Chart cards with higher relevance statistics and more white bars represent a stronger correlation.

Correlation charts are ordered in terms of their relevance. Relevance scores refer to the mutual information shared by the two variables rather than linear correlation. Mutual information is more powerful than linear correlation in detecting arbitrary associations between variables.

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How to Measure Correlation?

1. Start from your project's Correlations panel.
2. Choose a variable to generate a series of correlation charts.
3. Find the chart you want to inspect.
4. Hover over the white bars in the top right of the chart card.
5. The statistic representing the relevance of the variable indicates the strength of the correlation.
6. Done ... Higher numbers and more white bars represent a stronger correlation. Fewer bars and a lower statistic indicates a weaker correlation.

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Relative Mode in Correlations Charts

Across Graphext's UI, relative mode presents data as a proportional representation. In practise, this means you see data as a percentage distribution rather than an absolute count.

This is especially useful in Correlations charts because these use size and color to visualize the correlation between lots of values belonging to pairs of variables. With relative mode, the size and color range of bubbles in Correlations charts are restricted to a percentage distribution (either on the x or y axis). This makes it easier to spot patterns.

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Creating Correlation Charts

To start plotting correlation charts, navigate to the Correlation panel inside a Graphext project. Choose a variable using the search box and start exploring correlations between variables.

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How to Create Correlation Charts?

1. Start from your project's Correlation panel.
2. Click inside of the Select a variable text box.
3. Choose a variable to compare from the dropdown list.
4. Graphext will immediately generate a series of charts showing how the values from the variable you've chosen correlate with other variables in your data.
5. To change the variable represented in your charts, choose another using the search box at the top of your Correlations panel.
6. Done ... Scroll through the charts to explore the variable associations in your dataset.

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Changing Variables in Correlation Charts

Use the search bar at the top of your Compare panel to change the core variable that you are correlating with other variables in your data.

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How to Change Variables in Correlation Charts?

1. Start from your project's Correlation panel.
2. Click on a variable dropdown at the top of the Correlation panel. At the moment, this represents your current variable name.
3. Select a new variable from the dropdown list that appears.
4. Done ... Your charts will immediately update to represent correlations with the new variable.

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Capturing an Insight

Saving your Correlations charts as insights allows you to enhance your chart with elements like titles, descriptions and statistics. You can then present your Correlations charts directly inside of your project's Insights panel.

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How to Capture Individual Correlations Charts as Insights?

1. Start from your project's Correlations panel.
2. Make sure you have generated Correlations charts.
3. Locate the chart you want to save.
4. Select the three dots from the top right of the chart's card.
5. Select 'Save as insight' from the menu list.
6. Inside the 'Capturing insight' window that appears, enter a title for your insight.
7. Select 'Save Insight'.
8. Done ... Head over to your project's Insights panel to add more elements to the insight card.

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How to Collectively Capture the First 5 Correlations Charts as an Insight?

1. Start from your project's Correlations panel.
2. Make sure you have generated Correlations charts.
3. If the first five Correlations charts include charts you don't want to capture, hide the charts you don't need.
4. Click the icon representing 'Create insight of the first 5 variables' from the top right of the Correlations panel.
5. Inside the 'Capturing insight' window that appears, enter a title for your insight.
6. Select 'Save Insight'.
7. Done ... Head over to your project's Insights panel to add more elements to the insight card.

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Exporting Correlations Charts

Exporting Correlations charts individually means you can quickly include them in reports or presentations. To export a Correlations chart, use the 3 dots on the top right of the chart's card. Customise the appearance, size and theme of your Correlations chart in the download window.

Correlations charts are exported individually. To export more than one, first create an insight featuring the charts you want to export, then export that insight.

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How to Export a Correlations Chart?

1. Start from your project's Correlations panel.
2. Make sure you have generated Correlations charts.
3. Locate the chart you want to export.
4. Select the three dots from the top right of the chart's card.
5. Select 'Export' from the menu list.
6. Inside the download window, enter a title for your chart. This will be used as the name of your exported file.
7. Specify a width in pixels - height is automatically calculated.
8. Choose to export your chart as either a png, svg or csv.
9. Select either a dark or light theme for your chart. This will affect the color of text inside your chart.
10. Click 'Export'.
11. Save the file to your computer.
12. Done ... The chart is ready to use in your reports and presentations.

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Hiding Correlations Charts

Correlations charts are generated for lots of variables in your data. It's likely that not all of these will be useful so hide the ones that aren't. To hide a chart from your project's Correlations panel, start by clicking on the three dots at the top right of the chart's card.

Hiding charts can be useful when you are capturing an insight from the first 5 Correlations charts.

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How to Hide Correlations Charts?

1. Start from your project's Correlations panel.
2. Make sure you have generated Correlations charts.
3. Locate the chart you want to export.
4. Select the three dots from the top right of the chart's card.
5. Select 'Hide' from the menu list.
6. This chart will be immediately hidden from the grid of charts.
7. To undo this action, click on the chart's card in the hidden variables list at the top of your chart grid.
8. Done ... Repeat the process until your Correlations panel only represents useful charts.

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