Mosaic Plot

The mosaic plot is a graphical representation of the two-way frequency table or Contingency Table. A mosaic plot is divided into rectangles, so that the vertical length of each rectangle is proportional to the proportions of the Y variable in each level of the X variable. The mosaic plot was introduced by Hartigan and Kleiner in 1981 and refined by Friendly (1994).

To produce the plot shown in Example of a Mosaic Plot, follow the instructions in Example of Contingency Analysis.

Example of a Mosaic Plot

Note the following about the mosaic plot in Example of a Mosaic Plot:

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The proportions on the x-axis represent the number of observations for each level of the X variable, which is country.

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The proportions on the y-axis at right represent the overall proportions of Small, Medium, and Large cars for the combined levels (American, European, and Japanese).

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The scale of the y-axis at left shows the response probability, with the whole axis being a probability of one (representing the total sample).

Clicking on a rectangle in the mosaic plot highlights the selection and highlights the corresponding data in the associated data table.

Replace variables in the mosaic plot by dragging and dropping a variable, in one of two ways: swap existing variables by dragging and dropping a variable from one axis to the other axis; or, click on a variable in the Columns panel of the associated data table and drag it onto an axis.