When a dataset contains at least one text variable, a Word Cloud becomes available in a list of chart types.
A word cloud chart is a data visualization technique used in iconography to reflect the frequency of mentions of a word or brand. This simple and straightforward visualization is nevertheless quite vivid and most expressively represents the research results in social media publications.
How to use a word cloud
To start open a database → create any crosstab → switch to the chart mode → choose the word cloud in the chart types menu.
By default the word cloud is built with the first text variable in a codebook. If you have several text variables, you can switch to another one directly in the word cloud settings pane.
Word Cloud settings
A word cloud is basically made up of words of different sizes and colors taking up space in a specific order.
Here’s what can be adjusted in word cloud settings.
Words
There is a ‘words’ tab for this type of chart, where you can adjust:
the quantity of words in a cloud using a filter (e.g., use the expression ">70" to see only words that were mentioned by more than 70 respondents). Note, that a maximum of 100 words can be used in total;
the visibility of words using the ‘eye’ icons;
specific color for each word.
Colors
By default the colors of words are from a project palette, but they can be customized one by one using the ‘words’ tab on the chart settings pane.
Background color and alternative color for the chart field can be chosen as usual in the chart style pane.
Sizes
You can resize the chart itself as usual by dragging the borders. You can also use margins and spacing to enhance the chart's layout;
The size of words is defined in points (from a minimum of 6 to a maximum of 25). You can only customize the minimum and maximum size, not the specific size.
Angles
The words in the cloud are arranged in a spiral - rectangular or archimedean - you can choose;
Words can also have a slope from -90 to 90 degrees with a given number of slopes to use.