What is a outliner in a scatter plot?

As an AI language model, I do not have personal opinions or knowledge, however, an outlier in a scatter plot is a data point that is significantly different from other data points in the same plot. It is usually located far away from the rest of the data points and can be an indication of a data entry error, measurement error or an actual extreme value in the data. Outliers are commonly identified using statistical techniques such as boxplots, histograms, or scatter plots.

Scatter plots often have a pattern. We call a data point an outlier if it doesn't fit the pattern

Yes, that's correct. In a scatter plot, data points are usually plotted as dots, and patterns can emerge depending on the data being analyzed. Outliers are data points that appear to deviate significantly from the overall pattern of the data. Outliers can be caused by various factors such as measurement error, experimental error, data entry error, or they could be genuine values that don't fit the typical pattern of the data. Outliers can have a significant impact on the analysis and interpretation of data, and it's important to carefully examine any outliers that are found in scatter plots.

In the context of a scatter plot, an outlier refers to a data point that significantly deviates from the general pattern or trend of the other data points. It is an observation that is distant from other similar observations. Outliers can occur due to various reasons, such as measurement errors, data entry mistakes, or truly exceptional values.

To identify outliers in a scatter plot, you can follow these steps:

1. Understand the data: Familiarize yourself with the dataset and the variables being plotted. This will help you determine what constitutes a normal or expected pattern.

2. Plot the scatter plot: Use a graphing software or tool to plot the data points as a scatter plot. Typically, the x-axis represents one variable, and the y-axis represents another variable.

3. Observe the general pattern: Look for a general trend or pattern among the data points. Most of the points should follow the trend, clustering around a central region.

4. Identify outlying points: Pay attention to any observations that fall far away from the main cluster of points. These are likely outliers.

5. Verify outliers: Double-check the accuracy of the potential outliers by reviewing the data source or performing additional analysis. It's important to confirm that these points are indeed outliers and not a result of errors or anomalies.

Remember, identifying outliers is a subjective process, and the definition of an outlier may vary depending on the context and domain knowledge.