System and method for visualization of categories

A computer-readable disk or device comprising computer-executable modules having computer-executable instructions for displaying category data comprising at least one category, said modules comprising:

• ‘a module for calculating a distribution of states of a categorical attribute in said category data in one of said at least one category;
• a module for determining a maximum number N of displayable constituent shapes, wherein the maximum number N of displayable constituent shapes is automatically adjusted based on size of said display and based on said distribution;
• and
• a module for displaying said distribution as a histogram shape having a size corresponding to the total number of cases in said category data, said histogram shape comprising at least one constituent shape, said at least one constituent shape having up to the maximum number N of displayable constituent shapes, the size of each of said at least one constituent shape corresponding to a number of cases of one of said states of said categorical attribute in said distribution.

A computer device for displaying category data, where a data set comprises at least one category, said device comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• one or more memories comprising computer readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, at least cause the computer device to:
• calculate a distribution of states of a categorical attribute in said category data in one of said at least one category,
• determine a maximum number N of displayable constituent shapes, wherein the maximum number N of displayable constituent shapes is automatically adjusted based on size of said display and based on said distribution, and
• display said distribution as a histogram shape having a size corresponding to the total number of cases in said category data, said histogram shape comprising at least one constituent shape, said at least one constituent shape having up to the maximum number N of displayable constituent shapes, the size of each of said at least one constituent shapes corresponding to a number of cases of one of said states of said categorical attribute in said distribution.