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Cited by 184Data Visualization and AnalyticsHistory of Science and MedicineHistory and Theory of Mathematics

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 58 of the 64 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

The early origins and development of the scatterplot

Friendly, Michael, Denis, Daniel·2005·Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences
DOI 10.1002/jhbs.20078
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Abstract

Of all the graphic forms used today, the scatterplot is arguably the most versatile, polymorphic, and generally useful invention in the history of statistical graphics. Its use by Galton led to the discovery of correlation and regression, and ultimately to much of present multivariate statistics. So, it is perhaps surprising that there is no one widely credited with the invention of this idea. Even more surprising is that there are few contenders for this title, and this question seems not to have been raised before. This article traces some of the developments in the history of this graphical method, the origin of the term scatterplot, the role it has played in the history of science, and some of its modern descendants. We suggest that the origin of this method can be traced to its unique advantage: the possibility to discover regularity in empirical data by smoothing and other graphic annotations to enhance visual perception.

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Research works printed but not linked: 20

  1. Bennett, 1978, Memoirs of the Royal Astronomical Society, 85, 1
  2. Buache, 1752, Mémoires de L'Académie Royale des Sciences, 399
  3. (1782). Producten-Karte von Europa. Dessau: Author.
  4. (1858). Calcul des probabilés appliqué au tir des projectiles. Paris: J. Dumaine.
  5. du Carla-Boniface, 1782, Surveying and Mapping, 30, 389
  6. (1895). Die productions- und consumtionsverhaltnisse des konigreichs sachsen. In Die lebenkosten belgischer arbeiter-familien. Dresden: C. Heinrich. (Original work published 1857)
  7. Friendly, 2000, Journal de la Société Française de Statistique, 141, 51
  8. (1863). Meteorographica, or, methods of mapping the weather. London: Macmillan.
  9. Galton, 1886, Journal of the Anthropological Institute, 15, 246
  10. Galton, 1890, North American Review, 150, 419
  11. (1686). On the height of the mercury in the barometer at different elevations above the surface of the earth, and on the rising and falling of the mercury on the change of weather. Philosophical Transactions, pp. 104-115.
  12. (1701). The description and uses of a new, and correct sea-chart of the whole world, shewing variations of the compass. London: Author.
  13. Herschel, 1833a, Memoirs of the Royal Astronomical Society, 5, 13
  14. Herschel, 1833b, Memoirs of the Royal Astronomical Society, 5, 171
  15. (1760). Photometria sive de mensura et gradibus luminis colorum et umbrae. Augustae Vindelicorum: Vidvae Eberhardi Klett.
  16. (1858). Notes on matters affecting the health, efficiency, and hospital administration of the British Army. London: Harrison and Sons.
  17. (1482). Tractatus de latitudinibus formarum. Padova. British Library: IA 3Q024.
  18. Phillips, 1958, Economica, New Series, 25, 283
  19. (1801). Statistical breviary; shewing, on a principle entirely new, the resources of every state and kingdom in Europe. London: Wallis.
  20. (1750). Parentalia: Or, memoirs of the family of the wrens. London: T. Osborn and R. Dodsley.

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Metadata

Authors
Friendly, M., & Denis, D.
Affiliations
  • York University (CA)
  • University of Montana (US)
ORCID
Friendly, Michael
Venue
Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2005
Volume
41
Issue
2
Pages
103-130
ISSN
  • 0022-5061 (ISSN-L)
  • 1520-6696
DOI
10.1002/jhbs.20078
OpenAlex
W2140950617
Cited by
184
References
64
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 20 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 5
FWCI
2.38
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
doi.wiley.com/10.1002/tdm_license_1.1 (tdm, 3895 d)
Locations
  • Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computer Graphics and Computer-Aided Design › Data Visualization and Analytics
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History and Philosophy of Science › History of Science and Medicine
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History and Philosophy of Science › History and Theory of Mathematics
Keywords
scatter plots, Francis Galton, correlation, regression analysis, multivariate analysis, smoothing, visual perception, history of science
MeSH terms
Animals, Behavioral Sciences, Data Display, Data Interpretation, Statistical, Humans, History, 18th Century, History, 19th Century, History, 20th Century

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