In further support of dot plots. The purpose of data display is to convey information. Many non-cytometrists have told me that their IQ drops by about 20 points when viewing flow data. A figure composed of dot plots is simpler for the average reader to understand. Furthermore it stresses the single cell nature of the data- each dot is a cell. Bottom line: what is most important to you? Conveying information, or being right, but not getting your point across. Calman Prussin ---------- From: Alice.L.Givan@dartmouth.edu Sent: Monday, September 29, 1997 12:48 PM To: Cytometry Mailing List Subject: re: data display I know that dot plots can be misleading for all the reasons that Mario Roederer describes --- BUT I also know that, by choice of the contouring algorithm, you can make a contour plot look any way you want: shoulders on peaks can be emphasized or can be made to disappear, double peaks can be made to look like single peaks, etc etc etc.. These problems are not solved by showing the dots that are below the contouring threshold, as they relate to the levels of coutours above the threshold. Dot plots can be misleading, but contour plots are a can of worms. OK Mario (and anyone else) -- looking forward to your response! Alice Alice L. Givan Englert Cell Analysis Laboratory Dartmouth Medical School Lebanon, New Hampshire NH 03756 USA tel 603-650-7661 fax 603-650-6130 e-mail givan@dartmouth.edu
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