Overview
A box plot (also called a box-and-whisker plot) is a simple but powerful way to visualise the distribution of a dataset — that is, how the data is spread out, where most values lie, and whether there are any unusual points (outliers).
Why it’s Useful
Box plots are great for:
Comparing distributions across groups (e.g., test scores for different classes).
Spotting variability or outliers.
Summarizing data quickly without showing every individual point.
Five key values on a Box Plot
Maximum — the highest value in the selected peer set.
Top quartile (75th percentile) — 25% of peer values are higher than this value.
Median (50th percentile) — half of peer values are above and half are below.
Bottom quartile (25th percentile) — 25% of peer values are lower than this value.
Minimum — the lowest value in the selected peer set.
What a box plot shows
Each box plot summarizes the distribution of peer values for a single measure (for example, citations per paper or academic reputation).
The focus institution is shown as a dot on the box plot.
You can see the key values (median, quartiles etc.) by hovering over the chart
Some charts also have a Data points toggle, where you can see the individual values for the selected Benchmark Peers. It is not available for all box plot charts and it will only work if there are maximum 100 peers in the Benchmark Peer list.
How to interpret the Focus Institution’s position
If the dot is:
Between the Top quartile and the Maximum: your institution is in the top 25% of peers for that measure.
Example:
Above the Median but below the Top quartile: your institution is between the 50th and 75th percentiles.
Example:
Below the Median but above the Bottom quartile: your institution is between the 25th and 50th percentiles.
Example:
Below the Bottom quartile: your institution is in the bottom 25% of peers for that measure.
Example:
Quick reference table for Box plots
Box plot element | What it means | Interpretation |
Maximum | Highest peer value | Highest value |
Top quartile (75th) | 25% of peers are higher | Dot above Top quartile = top 25% |
Median (50th) | Middle of the distribution | -Dot above Median but below Top quartile = 50th–75th percentile |
Bottom quartile (25th) | 25% of peers are lower | Dot below Bottom quartile = bottom 25% |
Minimum | Lowest peer value | Lowest value |