Overview of Data Analysis in SAS Visual Analytics Explorer
Types of Data Analysis
SAS Visual Analytics enables you to perform three basic types of data analysis:
Correlation
identifies the degree
of statistical relationship between measures.
Fit Line
plots a model of the relationship between measures. There are many types of fit lines,
including linear fit, quadratic fit, cubic fit, and penalized B-spline.
Forecasting
estimates future values
for your data based on statistical trends.
Correlation
Correlation identifies the degree of statistical relationship between measures. The
strength of a correlation is described as a number between -1 and 1. A value that is close to -1 implies a
strong negative correlation, a value that is close to 0 implies little or no correlation, and a value that is
close to 1 implies a strong positive correlation.
To apply correlation to a visualization, add a linear fit line, or select the correlation matrix visualization type.
For a heat map or a simple scatter plot, the correlation is identified by a text label in the visualization legend. Select 
to view additional details about the correlation,
including the exact correlation value.
to view additional details about the correlation,
including the exact correlation value.
For a scatter plot matrix, the correlation for each plot is identified by a colored border around the plot. The visualization legend displays
a key for the color values. Select to view additional details about the correlation,
including the exact correlation values for each plot.
to view additional details about the correlation,
including the exact correlation values for each plot.
Note: For nonlinear fit types,
a scatter plot matrix displays additional plots to show each intersection
of variables in two orientations. For example, if a scatter plot matrix
plots the variables A, B, and C, then plots are created for both A
* B and B * A when a nonlinear fit line is applied.
For a correlation matrix, the correlation for each cell is identified by the color
of the cell background. The visualization legend displays a key for the color values.
The data tip for each cell displays the correlation value.
Fit Lines
A fit line plots a model of the relationship between measures. You can apply fit lines to scatter
plots and heat maps.
You can apply the following types of fit line to your visualization:
Best Fit
selects the most appropriate
model (linear, quadratic, or cubic) for your data. The Best Fit method uses backward variable selection to select the highest-order model that is significant. To see the final model that
was used, select from the visualization legend.
from the visualization legend.
Linear
creates a linear fit line from a linear regression algorithm. A linear fit line produces the straight line that best represents the
relationship between two measures.
For more information about the linear fit line, select from the visualization legend.
from the visualization legend.
For a linear fit, correlation is automatically added to the visualization. Correlation
is not available with other fit types.
Quadratic
creates a quadratic fit line. A quadratic fit produces a line with a single curve.
A quadratic fit line often
produces a line with the shape of a parabola. For more information about the quadratic
fit line, select from the visualization legend.
from the visualization legend.
Cubic
creates a cubic fit line. A cubic fit line produces a line with two curves. A cubic
fit line often produces
a line with an “S” shape. For more information about the cubic fit line, select from the visualization legend.
from the visualization legend.
PSpline
creates a penalized B-spline. A penalized B-spline is a smoothing spline that fits the data closely. A penalized B-spline can display a complex line with
many changes in its curvature. For more information about the penalized B-spline,
select from the visualization legend.
from the visualization legend.
Forecasting
Forecasting estimates
future values for your data based on statistical trends. Forecasting
is available only for line charts that contain date or datetime data
items.
A forecast adds a line with predicted values to your visualization and a colored band that represents
the confidence interval. For example, a 95% confidence interval is the data range where the forecasting model is 95% confident what the future values will be.
The explorer automatically tests multiple forecasting models against your data, and then selects the best model. To see which forecasting
model was used, select from the visualization legend.
from the visualization legend.
The forecast model can be any one of the following:
-
Damped-trend exponential smoothing
-
Linear exponential smoothing
-
-
Simple exponential smoothing
-
Winters method (additive)
-
Winters method (multiplicative)
Note: Forecasting accounts for
cyclical patterns by using standard intervals of time (for example,
60 minutes in an hour, 24 hours in a day, and so on). If your data
uses nonstandard intervals (for example, 48 30-minute cycles per day),
then cyclical patterns are not considered in the forecast.
Copyright © SAS Institute Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Last updated: January 8, 2019