Scribd
Upload
122 views27 pages

From Data To Charts

The document provides guidance on using Excel to analyze data and create visualizations. It discusses how Excel can import, sort, filter, and transform data. It also covers different chart types like column, bar, line, pie, and scatter plots that can be used to visualize patterns in the data. Guidelines are provided on choosing appropriate charts, using colors effectively, and ensuring charts are simple and clearly convey the key insights from the data.

Uploaded by

Joshua Olufemi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
122 views27 pages

From Data To Charts

The document provides guidance on using Excel to analyze data and create visualizations. It discusses how Excel can import, sort, filter, and transform data. It also covers different chart types like column, bar, line, pie, and scatter plots that can be used to visualize patterns in the data. Guidelines are provided on choosing appropriate charts, using colors effectively, and ensuring charts are simple and clearly convey the key insights from the data.

Uploaded by

Joshua Olufemi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 27

F R O M D ATA T O C H A R T S

J OSHUA OL UFEM I
P R O G R A M D I R E C TO R
P R E M I U M T I M E S C E N T R E F O R I N V E S T I G AT I V E J O U R N A L I S M
WHY USE EXCEL?

• Good stories can be found in the patterns of data

• Human mind alone can’t see the patterns in large sets of data

• Excel has tools to help us see the patterns in data in table form

• Excel can handle large tables


– More than 16,000 columns

– More than 1 million rows


INTRODUCTION TO SPREADSHEET
(EXCEL)
Excel handles large amounts of
data that is organized in
• Table with rows and
columns.
• Column (labeled A, B, C…)
list the variables (like Name,
Age, Cost, etc.)
• Row is for single record or
case being analyzed. Each
cell (like A1) holds a piece of
data.
• Typically, the first row holds
the names of the variables.
WHAT EXCEL CAN DO

• Import data from many formats

• Freeze view of data

• Sort data by one or more variables

• Filter data to show only selected rows

• Transform data using functions and formulas

• Summarize data into categories

• Visualize data using charts and graphs


IMPORTING DATA

• Common formats
– *.xls (or *.xlsx)
– Fixed-width text
– Delimited text (comma, tab, etc)
– HTML tables
• Data Import Wizard will help
Freeze Rows/Column

Freeze – Clip a section of table to make it always show as you


scroll

• Go to view bar and click on FREEZE menu

• Select “Column(s)” or Row(s) to Freeze


Sort

SORT – arrange in ascending/descending OR


minimum/maximum
• Select the whole table OR Click Ctrl/Cmd A
• Sort – Go to menu bar and click on DATA menu
• Select “Sort Range” remember to check “Data has header”
• Select the column you want to sort by
Filter

FILTER – to keep wanted values from a dataset


• Select “Filter” from the “Data” menu.
• You now should see ”funnel” at the top of the
column
TRANSFORMING DATA

• Math functions
– Add, subtract, multiply, divide
– Average, median, maximum, minimum

• Date/Time functions
– Day of week, days between

• Text functions
– Extract parts of text strings
– Search and replace text
FUNCTION WIZARD ( ƑX)
FUNCTION WIZARD (ƑX)
Basic Cell Manipulations

• Text Cases: UPPER | LOWER | PROPER |


• Join: CONCATENATE
• Split: TEXT TO COLUMN
• Blank: Home > Find & Select > Go To Special > Blank > Ok
• Duplicates: Go to Data, then Remove Duplicates
• Extra Spaces: TRIM
CHARTS
There are three (3) major kinds of charts used for reporting
• line,
• bar
• pie

Other related charts or graphs used by present day journalists


include
• Scatter graph
• Maps
CHOOSING YOUR CHARTS
Our data analysis can be categorized into one of the 5
methods

• Comparison | efficiency | position | variation


• Distribution | trend | outlier | events |
• Composition | scale | efficiency |
• Relationship | correlation | causality | effectiveness
• Geography – map
TABLES
• Tables are essentially the source for all the
charts. They are best used for comparison,
composition, or relationship analysis when
there are only few variables and data points. It
would not make much sense to create a chart if
the data can be easily interpreted from the table.

Use tables when:


• You need to compare or look up individual values.
• You require precise values.
• Values involve multiple units of measure.
• The data has to communicate quantitative
information, but not trends.
COLUMN CHARTS
• The column chart is probably the most used
chart type. Best for comparing means or
percentages between 2 to 7 different groups.
• With column charts you could compare
values for different categories or compare
value changes over a period of time for a
single category.
• If one of your data dimensions is time —
including years, quarters, months, weeks,
days, or hours you should always set time
dimension on the horizontal axis.
• For column charts, the numerical axis must
start at zero.
BAR CHARTS: HORIZONTAL COLUMN CHARTS.

• If you have long category names, it


is best to use bar charts because
they give more space for long text.
You should also use bar charts,
instead of column charts, when the
number of categories is greater
than seven (but not more than
fifteen) or for displaying a set with
negative numbers.

• A typical use of bar charts would be


visitor traffic from top referral
websites. Referring sites are usually
more than five to seven sites and
website names are quite long, so
STACKED COLUMN CHARTS
Stacked column charts is to show a composition. Do not use too
many composition items (not more than three or four) and make
sure the composing parts are relatively similar in size.
LINE GRAPH
• A line graph displays the
relationship between two types of
information, such as number of
school personnel trained by
year.
• It can also be used to compare
two different variables over time
e.g. how the increased
government funding in nutrition
correlates with cassava sales over
the span of 5 years.

• They are useful in illustrating


trends over time.
• Pie charts are best used to illustrate a
sample break down in a single
dimension. In other words, it is best to
use pie charts when you want to show
differences within groups based on one
variable.

• It is important to remember that pie


charts should only be used with a group
of categories that combine to make up a
whole or to show proportion
SCATTER CHARTS
• Scatter charts are primarily
used for correlation and
distribution analysis. Good for
showing the relationship
between two different
variables where one correlates
to another (or doesn’t).
• Scatter charts can also show
the data distribution or
clustering trends and help
spot anomalies or outliers.
• A good example of scatter
charts would be a chart
showing marketing spending
vs. revenue.
MAP CHARTS
Map charts are good for giving your numbers a geographical context to
quickly spot best and worst performing areas, trends, and outliers. If you
have any kind of location data like coordinates, country names, state
names or abbreviations, or addresses, you can plot related data on a map.
GUIDELINES FOR GRAPHS AND CHARTS
Keep it simple and avoid flashy special effects. Present only essential information.
Avoid using gratuitous options in graphical software programs, such as three-
dimensional bars, that confuse the reader. If the graph or chart is too complex, it will
not clearly communicate the important points.

Title your graph or chart clearly to convey the purpose. The title provides the reader
with the overall message you are conveying.

Specify the units of measurement on the x and y-axis. Years, number of participants
trained, and type of school personnel are examples of labels for units of measurement.

Label each part of the chart or graph. You may need a legend if there is too much
information to label each part of the chart or graph. (See the line graph). Use different
colors or variations in patterns to help the reader distinguish categories and
understand your graph or chart
DATA VISUALIZATION DO’S AND DON’TS
• Time axis. When using time in charts, set it on the horizontal axis. Time should run
from left to right. Do not skip values (time periods), even if there are no values.
• Proportional values. The numbers in a chart (displayed as bar, area, bubble, or other
physically measured element in the chart) should be directly proportional to the
numerical quantities presented.
• Data-Ink Ratio. Remove any excess information, lines, colors, and text from a chart
that does not add value.
• Sorting. For column and bar charts, to enable easier comparison, sort your data in
ascending or descending order by the value, not alphabetically. This applies also to pie
charts.
• Legend. You don’t need a legend if you have only one data category.
• Labels. Use labels directly on the line, column, bar, pie, etc., whenever possible, to
avoid indirect look-up.
• Inflation adjustment. When using monetary values in a long-term series, make sure
to adjust for inflation.
Colors. In any chart, don’t use more than six colors.
Colors. For comparing the same value at different time periods, use the same
color in a different intensity (from light to dark).
Colors. For different categories, use different colors. The most widely used colors
are black, white, red, green, blue, and yellow.
Colors. Keep the same color palette or style for all charts in the series, and same
axes and labels for similar charts to make your charts consistent and easy to
compare.
Colors. Check how your charts would look when printed out in grayscale. If you
cannot distinguish color differences, you should change hue and saturation of
colors.
Colors. Seven to 10 percent of men have color deficiency. Keep that in mind when
creating charts, ensuring they are readable for color-blind people.
Data Complexity. Don’t add too much information to a single chart. If necessary,
split data in two charts, use highlighting, simplify colors, or change chart type.

You might also like