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10 Best Practices for Graphing &

Displaying Data
Jeff Sauro, PhD
February 8, 2017

Visualizing data can make digesting numbers

easier and ideally lead to more efficient and accurate decisions.

Graphs and visualizations aren’t without their risks, though. The choice of scales, graph
types, and styles can all have an effect, for better or worse, on how your audience
interprets the findings.

Here are 10 best practices (and what to watch for) that we’ve compiled from our own
experiences graphing and displaying data as well as recommendations from well-known
data visualization authors.

1. Watch for chart junk

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Visual elements on a graph that aren’t necessary to convey information, or worse, that
distract from the main point, are what Tufte calls chart junk. Common chart junk
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suspects include pictures, thick gridlines, shadows, or 3D elements (like this figure).

Despite Tufte’s strong condemnation, not all graph pictures are necessarily chart junk.
Tufte has a way of exaggerating to make a point and there is some evidence that the
right pictures on a graph can improve recall and interpretation.

2. Y-scaling matters
The y-scale (vertical axis) you choose can either intentionally or unintentionally obscure
or magnify differences in data. While you don’t want to mislead or be misled, keep in
mind there is no objective graph; always assume there’s an agenda behind each graph
(some more benign than others). The context matters and the reader should
understand the context and consequences of how the y-scale was chosen. These two
figures graph the same global temperature data but have different y-scales.

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3. Zero is not always a hero

Don’t always think graphs have to start at zero. While it’s a good idea to have best
practices when displaying data in graphs, the “show the zero” is a rule that clearly can
be broken.

4.Consistently scale the y-axis

Whatever y-scale you decide on, be consistent when presenting multiple graphs in the
same report by using the same y-scale (if possible). These two figures show similar
results but because the y-scale differs it looks like the scores on the right are much
lower.

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5.Difference and raw scores can tell different stories

Difference scores (the difference between two data points) can help clear the noise on
graphs that have many data points. Difference scores draw attention to important
differences that may get lost with raw scores. Accentuated differences can suggest a
difference is more impactful in the real world, even if the difference is modest. Be
careful with difference scores though; they can be harder to interpret than the original
values.

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6. Be wary of 3D
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The volume of an object increases at a faster rate than its area. Therefore, showing 3D
graphs for comparison actually depicts a bigger difference than the data or just
generally results in poorer decision making.

Some research has found [pdf] 3D doesn’t hurt as much as the visualization gurus
suggest it does, but I still recommend minimizing 3D when 2D conveys the needed
information.

7. A table might be better

If you find yourself with too many bars on a graph, a display of numbers in a table is
often a better visualization. It can reduce chart junk and even subtle biases including
exaggerated differences or questionable y-scales.

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8. Indicate sampling error

Consider indicating sampling error by providing confidence intervals or some other
indication of statistical significance when needed so your audience can differentiate real
differences from random noise.

9. Compared to what?
When possible provide a comparison to improve interpretation, such as to an external
benchmark, like an industry average or best in-class competitor. This figure shows task-
ease data using the SEQ and includes the industry average (horizontal dashed-line) and
three competitor scores per task. These comparisons help make the metrics more
meaningful and answer the question: Is this good or bad?

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10. When in doubt, test

If you have time, usability test your visualizations to see whether your audience’s
understanding and interpretation matches yours. Like usability testing of products,
don’t just ask people if they “like” the graph; use a mix of open and closed-ended
questions to assess their comprehension. In fact, you may find that some of the “rules”
on good visualizations proclaimed by experts aren’t supported by data—as is the case
with chart embellishments and 3D perspectives.

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