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Reference.org
Multivariate map
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<p>A bivariate map or multivariate map is a type of <a href="/facts/Thematic_map/4IRIMU1A">thematic map</a> that displays two or more <a href="/facts/Variable_(mathematics)/VbQlrvKz">variables</a> on a single <a href="/facts/Map/KxQX4B2U">map</a> by combining different sets of <a href="/facts/Map_symbol/8LKc4kSA">symbols</a>. Each of the variables is represented using a standard <a href="/facts/Thematic_map/4IRIMU1A">thematic map</a> technique, such as <a href="/facts/Choropleth_map/VamzVFyu">choropleth</a>, <a href="/facts/Cartogram/TGdzv0t5">cartogram</a>, or <a href="/facts/Proportional_symbol_map/qLRJMAwG">proportional symbols</a>. They may be the same type or different types, and they may be on separate layers of the map, or they may be combined into a single multivariate symbol. </p><p>The typical objective of a multivariate map is to visualize any statistical or geographic <a href="/facts/Correlation_and_dependence/egkluAEm">relationship</a> between the variables. It has potential to reveal relationships between variables more effectively than a side-by-side comparison of the corresponding univariate maps, but also has the danger of <a href="/facts/Cognitive_overload/MAAlVLBs">Cognitive overload</a> when the symbols and patterns are too complex to easily understand.: 331 </p>