WEEK 2 –

INTRODUCTION TO DATA
VISUALISATION
SEM 1 | Course Unit Code: CCU 3103 | 12/09/2024
Course Objectives

• Importance of data visualization

• Historical evolution and key milestones
• Role in journalism and information science
What is data visualisation?
• Data: refers to factual information (such as measurements or statistics) used as a
basis for reasoning, discussion, or calculation. In scientific contexts, data are the
results of observations or experiments that can be used to make inferences or
draw conclusions.
• Visualisation: is the process of representing data or concepts graphically to aid in
understanding patterns, trends, and relationships within the information. It involves
the creation and study of visual representations of data to communicate
information clearly and efficiently.
• Data visualisation: is the systematic graphical representation and presentation of
information and data using visual elements such as charts, graphs, and maps to
facilitate understanding… that effectively communicate complex data relationships,
patterns, and trends in an intuitive and accessible manner.
• Two of the most popular types of data visualizations are dashboards and
infographics, both of which use a combination of charts, text, and images to
communicate the message of the data.
Why is data visualisation important?
• Data visualization simplifies complex information, making it more accessible to audiences
with varying levels of expertise.
• For example – the interactive maps of COVID-19 used by various media companies to visually
represent the spread of the pandemic, making it easier for the public to understand its impact.
• Data visualizations can help uncover hidden patterns or trends in large datasets that might
not be apparent in raw data. The important information from more than a million
measurements is immediately available.
• Data visualisation facilitates storytelling by making the stories more compelling and
memorable.
• Interactive data visualizations can promote user engagement and exploration of data,
leading to deeper insights.
• Data visualization can serve as a common language between different fields, facilitating
interdisciplinary communication and collaboration.
• Data visualization facilitates understanding of both large-scale and small-scale features of
the data.
Historical evolution of data visualisation
and its key milestones
Early Beginnings (1600s–1800s):
• 1662: John Graunt’s “Bills of Mortality” – one of the earliest known
data visualizations used to represent public health statistics in London
during the bubonic plague.
• 1786: William Playfair’s invention of bar charts and line graphs,
published in his “The Commercial and Political Atlas”. His charts were
the first to visually communicate economic data (prices, wages, and
trade balances).
• 1801: Playfair’s pie chart introduced to compare population and
economic data, setting the groundwork for modern statistical graphics.
Relevance in Journalism:
• Early adoption in political and economic journalism, as visual
representations of data began to supplement traditional narratives to
influence public opinion.
Key Milestones in the 20th
Century
Early 1900s – Mid-1900s:
• 1933: Otto Neurath develops the Isotype (International System of
Typographic Picture Education), using icons to represent quantitative
information, shaping modern infographics.
• 1950s–1960s: Rise of statistical graphics in media reporting, particularly
during WWII, where data visualizations were used to convey complex
war data in a clear way for the public.
Rise in Information Science:
• Information design took off in scientific publications and reports,
fostering growth in knowledge representation. Journalistic use of
visualization expanded with scientific discoveries, especially in health
and environmental reporting.
Modern Data Visualization in Journalism
& Information Science
Late 20th Century – Present:
• 1977: John Tukey’s Exploratory Data Analysis popularized the use of visual
methods to analyse data, including box plots and histograms.
• 2000s: Data visualization becomes a critical tool in digital journalism. Interactive
visualizations emerge with advancements in computer technology. Examples
include The New York Times and The Guardian adopting dynamic infographics.
• 2014: The rise of data journalism, with major outlets like FiveThirtyEight and
ProPublica emphasizing data-driven storytelling.
Future Trends:
• AI-driven visualizations, AR/VR in storytelling, and the increased role of data
visualization in public policy, science communication, and investigative
journalism.
Role of data visualisation in journalism
and information science
• Helps journalists present data-driven stories in an accessible way to
engage readers.
• Simplify complex datasets into simple, digestible visuals for readers.
• Visualizations add emotional and cognitive appeal to data, making
stories more compelling and persuasive.
Data Visualization in Journalism
Key Applications in Journalism:
• Enables journalists to explore large datasets (e.g., election results,
financial records, health statistics) to uncover hidden patterns and
trends.
• Interactive visualizations (maps, charts) allow readers to explore data
themselves, offering personalized insights.
• Visuals help to fact-check and present evidence-based stories that
promote transparency and accountability.
Examples:
• The New York Times, and The Guardian use interactive visualizations
for stories on politics, economics, and public health.
Data Visualization in
Information Science
• In information science, data visualization helps in managing and
representing complex information structures (e.g., bibliometric
analysis, network visualizations of scientific citations).
• Facilitates quicker insights and decision-making through visual tools in
areas like big data analytics, business intelligence, and academic
research.
• Visual representations in academic papers and reports (charts,
graphs, diagrams) make research findings clearer and more impactful.
• Visualization tools (e.g., Tableau) are commonly used to analyse and
present large volumes of data.
Reference:
• Card, S. K., Mackinlay, J. D., & Shneiderman, B. (1999). Readings in information visualization: using vision to
think. Morgan Kaufmann.
• Colin Ware (2012) Information Visualization: Perception for Design. Elsevier
• Hey, T. (2004). The Data Deluge: An e-Science Perspective. In Grid Computing: Making the Global
Infrastructure a Reality (eds F. Berman, G. Fox and T. Hey). https://doi.org/10.1002/0470867167.ch36