Cited by 1,802Data Visualization and AnalyticsSAS software applications and methodsStatistical Methods and Applications

Violin Plots: A Box Plot-Density Trace Synergism

Hintze, Jerry L., Nelson, Ray D.·1998·The American Statistician

Abstract

Many modifications build on Tukey's original box plot. A proposed further adaptation, the violin plot, pools the best statistical features of alternative graphical representations of batches of data. It adds the information available from local density estimates to the basic summary statistics inherent in box plots. This marriage of summary statistics and density shape into a single plot provides a useful tool for data analysis and exploration.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1080/00031305.1998.10480559

Cites

17 of 17 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Popular visualizations of distributions are histograms, density plots, and violin plots, but they seem to be hard for an uninitiated audience to grasp.

    “Popular visualizations of distributions are histograms, density plots, and violin plots (Hintze and Nelson [49] show multiple density plots side-by-side), but they seem to be hard for an uninitiated audience to grasp.”

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Authors
Hintze, J. L., & Nelson, R. D.
Affiliations
Brigham Young University (US)
Venue
The American Statistician
Published
1998-05
Volume
52
Issue
2
Pages
181-184
ISSN
  • 0003-1305 (ISSN-L)
  • 1537-2731
OpenAlex
W2042204882
Cited by
1,802
References
17
Citations by year
2026: 97 · 2025: 138 · 2024: 181 · 2023: 170 · 2022: 159 · 2021: 184 · 2020: 151 · 2019: 124 · 2018: 112 · 2017: 83 · 2016: 74 · 2015: 60 · 2014: 69 · 2013: 57 · 2012: 40
FWCI
2.08
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
The American Statistician (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition › Data Visualization and Analytics
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › SAS software applications and methods
  • Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Statistics and Probability › Statistical Methods and Applications
Keywords
violin plots, box plots, density estimation, data visualization, summary statistics, exploratory data analysis

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