RE: data display

Calman Prussin (CPRUSSIN@atlas.niaid.nih.gov)
Tue, 30 Sep 1997 08:54:17 -0400

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

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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