SuperPlotsOfData-a web app for the transparent display and quantitative comparison of continuous data from different conditions

Plots and charts are graphical tools that make data intelligible and digestible by humans. But the oversimplification of data by only plotting the statistical summaries conflicts with the transparent communication of results. Therefore, plotting of all data are generally encouraged and this can be achieved by using a dotplot for discrete conditions. Dotplots, however, often fail to communicate whether the data are from different technical or biological replicates. The superplot has been proposed by Lord and colleagues (Lord et al., 2020) to improve the communication of experimental design and results. To simplify the plotting of data from discrete conditions as a superplot, the SuperPlotsOfData web app was generated. The tool offers easy and open access to state-of-the-art data visualization. In addition, it incorporates recent innovations in data visualization and analysis, including raincloud plots and estimation statistics. The free, open source webtool can be accessed at: https://huygens.science.uva.nl/SuperPlotsOfData/.

Automated summary

Plots and charts are important graphical tools for making data understandable to humans. The oversimplification of data by only plotting statistical summaries can conflict with transparent communication of results. The superplot is a proposed method to improve the communication of experimental design and results.