CSC448: Data Visualization

Assignment 1: Visual Analysis of a Data Set Using Tableau

Task:
Create various visualizations in Tableau to analyze and reveal various relationships within a data set.

Scenario:
In this assignment you will work with a dataset of fuel economy data for 2015 model year cars and create
multiple visualizations to answer a series of questions.

Deliverable:
Pre-requisite:
a. We worked with Tableau public in the class. For this assignment you have to download the Tableau
Desktop (trial version for 14 days) [ LINK: https://www.tableau.com/products/desktop/download ] and
make your assignment in the tool – you have to save the Tableau workbook locally on your PC and send an
email to course email address ( [email protected] ) .
Tip: Later you can also request the student version of Tableau using the below mentioned link to register
Tableau Desktop for 6 months / 1 year license. Link is https://www.tableau.com/academic/students#form.
b. You have to work in group of 3-4 people.

1) Create a Tableau workbook based on the Excel file “2015 Model Cars Fuel Economy data.xlsx”.
2) Create eight data visualizations, one for each question listed on the next page. Each visualization should be on a
separate worksheet within the workbook and it should provide the answer to the complete question. Label
each worksheet in the Tableau workbook as “Question 1,” “Question 2,” and so on.
3) Using the visualization you created in 2 above, answer each question using the Deliverable Worksheet at the end of
this document.
4) Bonus work: Use story telling feature of Tableau to answer all questions in a story flow.

Due Date:

The due date for this assignment No. 1 is Sunday 14th October 10:59 AM PST (Before Sunday Noon). You
must email the “UPDATED Deliverable Worksheet” and your Tableau Workbook to course email address
[email protected] maximum by Sunday 14th October 10:59 AM PST. If the assignment
is received between Sunday 14th October 11:00 AM and 11:59 PM, 30% marks will be deducted from overall
marks of the assignment. Any email afterwards will not be accepted.
Important Note: You have to save a local copy of your workbook in Tableau Desktop and attach with the email.
Sharing a Tableau public workbook will not be accepted.

Tips:

• You should construct your visualizations so that they appropriately display the data.
• Keep in mind principles that we’ve discussed in class, such as good use of colors, legends, scale, and
aspect ratio. Don’t be afraid to play around with fonts and colors. Also remember, simplicity is good.
• Make sure you are aware of when to use which aggregate (sum vs median vs mode).
• Take the hints seriously – they will help you!

CSC448: Data Visualization Page 1

Grading:
For each question, your work will be evaluated using the following criteria:

Criteria Description
Answer Is the answer to the question correct?
Visual Encoding Considering the task at hand (the question), is the right
visualization selected that uses correct visual encoding to
answer the question?
Visualization Design Are the axes and data points labeled properly and readable?

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Questions:
Q1–

Which car manufacturer has the greatest number of car models (carline)?
(consider variations as separate models-use count function – i.e., BMW 228i versus BMW 228i xDrive)

Q2-

a) Which car manufacturer has the highest average fuel economy for city driving?
b) Which car manufacturer has the highest average fuel economy for highway driving?

Q 3–

Which car model has the greatest average difference between its highway fuel economy and its city fuel
economy?
(HINT: Create a calculated field for the difference and then create a graphic using that value.)

Q 4–

What is the relationship between average (combined) fuel economy and more powerful engines (i.e., higher
engine displacement)? (i.e., when one variable is high/low, what is the value of the other one?)

Q5–

a) Which transmission type has the highest overall average fuel economy?
b) Which transmission type has the worst overall average fuel economy?

Q 6–

Which manufacturers have, on average, more powerful engines in their four-wheel drive small SUVs than
their two-wheel drive small SUVs? (HINT: Use a filter!)

Q7–

a) What is the relationship between city fuel economy (MPG) and highway fuel economy (MPG)? (i.e.,
when one variable is high/low, what is the value of the other one?)
b) Using the same graphic, identify the single car model with the lowest city AND highway fuel
economy?
c) Who makes that car?
(HINT: Use labels!)

Q8–

a) What is the relationship between engine displacement and overall (combined) CO2 emissions?
(i.e., when one variable is high/low, what is the value of the other one?)
b) Which car models get better city mileage than highway mileage?
c) What can you say about their CO2 emissions of those cars in (b), compared to the rest of the group?

(HINTS: Use a calculated field to create a categorical variable to differentiate between the two groups.
You will use the measure from the calculated field you created in question 3 within this new calculated
field. Then use that variable to color code your data points. Finally, put labels containing the model
names on your data points.)

CSC448: Data Visualization Page 3

 CSC448 – Data Visualization
Assignment 1 – Updated Deliverable Worksheet
Name Reg # ___________________
Name Reg # ___________________
Name Reg # ___________________
Name Reg # ___________________

Use this worksheet to complete the assignment. The questions are on page 3. There are two
parts of this work sheet. In the first part you will answer the eight questions. In the second
part, you need to explain the logic behind choosing particular visualization technique and what
were the visual encodings you chose, and the reasons for choosing them?
PART 1

Question Your Answer

1
2a
2b
3
4
5a
5b
6
7a
7b
7c
8a
8b
8c

CSC448: Data Visualization Page 4

 PART 2

Question Chosen Visualization and Visual Encoding Reasons (Marks, channels, fonts,
legends etc)
1 Chosen Visualization:

Visual Encoding reasons:

2 Chosen Visualization:

Visual Encoding reasons:

3 Chosen Visualization:

Visual Encoding reasons:

4 Chosen Visualization:

Visual Encoding reasons:

5 Chosen Visualization:

Visual Encoding reasons:

6 Chosen Visualization:

Visual Encoding reasons:

7 Chosen Visualization:

Visual Encoding reasons:

8 Chosen Visualization:

Visual Encoding reasons:

CSC448: Data Visualization Page 5