What type of diagram plots values of one characteristic against another?

A scatter diagram is a visual representation that plots values of one characteristic against another to identify the relationship or correlation between the two variables. This type of diagram allows for easy visualization of how changes in one characteristic may affect another. For instance, if you are examining the relationship between hours of study and exam scores, each point on the scatter diagram represents a particular instance of study hours plotted against the corresponding exam score.

The arrangement of points can reveal trends, such as whether there is a positive correlation (where an increase in one characteristic results in an increase in the other), a negative correlation, or no correlation at all. This tool is particularly valuable in various fields, including quality control and data analysis, as it aids in identifying patterns and potential outliers, facilitating informed decision-making and process improvements.

In contrast, a control chart is primarily used for monitoring process stability and variation over time, a process flow chart outlines the steps in a process, and a histogram displays the distribution of a single variable. Each of these serves different purposes and does not fulfill the specific function of plotting two characteristics against each other as a scatter diagram does.