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Data Visualization

The document summarizes lessons from Alberto Cairo about data visualization. Some key points include: not all data needs visualization; tables are better when individual values are more important than patterns; stick to traditional forms but non-traditional styles can also be useful; be careful of aggregation paradoxes and outliers; use words to explain graphics; show limitations and uncertainty. The document provides many additional resources on data visualization fundamentals, history, mapping, dashboards, and design books.

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FandiImanda
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483 views

Data Visualization

The document summarizes lessons from Alberto Cairo about data visualization. Some key points include: not all data needs visualization; tables are better when individual values are more important than patterns; stick to traditional forms but non-traditional styles can also be useful; be careful of aggregation paradoxes and outliers; use words to explain graphics; show limitations and uncertainty. The document provides many additional resources on data visualization fundamentals, history, mapping, dashboards, and design books.

Uploaded by

FandiImanda
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Data and Computational Journalism Conference Indonesia (DCJ-CI) 2022

DATA VISUALIZATION
A few personal lessons

www.albertocairo.com Twitter: @albertocairo


2012 2016 2019 2023 (crossing fingers!)
Not everything needs to be a visualization
The relationship between patterns and their exceptions is a key principle of data exploration:
to uncover patterns and trends, but also the exceptions to those patterns and trends.

“The greatest value


of a picture is when it
forces us to notice
what we never
expected to see.”

John W. Tukey
When reading individual values is more important than overall patterns, tables are better
When patterns are more important than individual values, visualizations are better

The “hockey stick chart” The Warming Stripes

Michael E. Mann, Raymond S. Bradley,


and Malcolm K. Hughes
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC), Third Report, 2001
Use a level of detail that matches the intended goals of the graphic:
don’t oversimplify, don’t overcomplicate
The danger of aggregating data too much,
and presenting just averages and other statistical summaries

Most places are pretty safe, and


have likely remained down here
(these aren’t real data points)
The danger of aggregating data too much,
and presenting just averages and other statistical summaries

Some places are so


far up that they skew
the national rate

Most places are pretty safe, and


have likely remained down here
(these aren’t real data points)

Careful with amalgamation


paradoxes and outliers
http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00513/full
In general, stick to traditional graphic forms
http://www.datavizcatalogue.com/
https://github.com/ft-interactive/chart-doctor/blob/master/visual-vocabulary/Visual-vocabulary.pdf
Non-traditional styles and graphic forms may be useful depending on the nature of the project

www.whydocatsanddogs.com
Don’t assume that graphics always explain themselves
How to read the NHC cone of uncertainty

1 2 3 4 5
Use words (written or spoken)
www.gapminder.org
The Joy of Stats
Extra materials
Where to go from here
Visualization books freely available online

https://serialmentor.com/dataviz/ https://r4ds.had.co.nz/
EXTRA READINGS:

Various articles about data visualization


https://www.dropbox.com/sh/elp612msxsawrkq/AABga-
vZ_0McK30_zEThEtW1a?dl=0

The Financial Times’s columns about data visualization


https://www.dropbox.com/sh/9hbdxqsoel4n3zy/
AABh1k59lSo4dUb765DbLxjHa?dl=0
Readings from DataWrapper

DataWrapper’s blog: DataWrapper tool:


https://blog.datawrapper.de/beautifulcolors/ https://www.datawrapper.de/
https://blog.datawrapper.de/colorguide/
Accessibility in data visualization
https://www.betterment.com/resources/accessible-
data-visualization/

http://www.storytellingwithdata.com/blog/2018/6/26/
accessible-data-viz-is-better-data-viz Don’t vary just hue.
Vary also brightness

https://drive.google.com/file/d/
1OFmCvSt6bGk7u0kH6Kf5tIVQPMZ-wEKw/view

https://medium.com/nightingale/data-visualization-
accessibility-where-are-we-now-and-whats-next-
b2c9eeac4e8b\
www.excelcharts.com
Other resources about visualization in Excel:

https://policyviz.com/product/a-guide-to-advanced-data-visualization-in-excel-2016/

https://simplexct.com/views

https://depictdatastudio.com/learn-how-to-make-great-graphs-in-excel-with-ann-k-emery/

https://stephanieevergreen.com/how-to/

https://peltiertech.com/blog/
https://www.datavisualizationsociety.com/

https://nightingaledvs.com/
Showing and explaining limitations and uncertainty

https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/cros/powerfromstatistics/OR/PfS-OutlookReport-Cairo.pdf https://graphics.cs.wisc.edu/Papers/2014/CG14/Preprint.pdf

Collection of papers about visualizing uncertainty:


https://www.dropbox.com/sh/jk4ginxyai6ylqu/AABvqdyT1hJtyFN9nKNHyX9Ba?dl=0
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/08/29/opinion/hurricane-dorian-forecast-map.html
Visualization fundamentals
History, inspiration, examples
Mapping
Dashboards
Books about visual design
THANK YOU

www.albertocairo.com Twitter: @albertocairo

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