Data Visualization
What Is Data Visualization?
Data visualization is the presentation of quantitative information in a
graphical form. In other words, data visualizations turn large and
small datasets into visuals that are easier for the human brain to
understand and process.
Data visualization allows us to spot patterns, trends, and correlations
that otherwise might go unnoticed in traditional reports, tables, or
spreadsheets
Today’s businesses have access to a vast amount of data generated
from both inside and outside the organization. Data visualization
helps you make sense of it all
What Makes a Good Data Visualization?
Good data visualizations are created when communication, data
science, and design collide. Data visualizations done right offer key
insights into complicated datasets in ways that are meaningful and
intuitive.
In order to craft a good data visualization, you need to start with
clean data that is well sourced and complete. Once your data is
ready to visualize, you need to pick the right chart.
What Makes a Good Data Visualization?
Choose the right type of chart for your data:
Line Charts to track changes or trends over time and show the
relationship between two or more variables.
Bar Charts to compare quantities of different categories.
Scatter Plots show the joint variation of two data items.
Pie Charts to compare parts of a whole - used them sparingly
since people have a hard time comparing the area of pie slices
You can show additional variables on a 2-D plot using colour,
shape, and size
Use interactive dashboards to allow experiments with key
variables
Why Does Data Visualization Matter?
Because of the way the human brain processes information, using
charts or graphs to visualize large amounts of complex data is easier
than poring over spreadsheets or reports. Data visualization is a
quick, easy way to convey concepts in a universal manner and you
can experiment with different scenarios by making slight
adjustments.
Nowadays, organizations are using data visualizations, and data
tools, to ask better questions and make better decisions. Emerging
computer technologies and new user-friendly software programs
have made it easy to learn more about your company and make
better data-driven business decisions.
Questions to Ask When Deciding Which Type of Chart
to Use
Do you want to compare values?
Charts are perfect for comparing one or many value sets, and they
can easily show the low and high values in the data sets. To create a
comparison chart, use these types of graphs:
- Column - Mekko
- Bar - Pie
- Line - Scatter Plot
- Bullet
Questions to Ask When Deciding Which Type of Chart
to Use
Do you want to show the composition of something?
Use this type of chart to show how individual parts make up the
whole of something, such as the device type used for mobile visitors
to your website or total sales broken down by sales rep.
- Pie - Stacked Bar
- Mekko - Stacked Column
- Area - Waterfall
Questions to Ask When Deciding Which Type of Chart
to Use
Do you want to understand the distribution of your data?
Distribution charts help you to understand outliers, the normal
tendency, and the range of information in your values.
- Scatter Plot
- Mekko
- Line
- Column
- Bar
Questions to Ask When Deciding Which Type of Chart
to Use
Are you interested in analyzing trends in your data set?
If you want to know more information about how a data set
performed during a specific time period, there are specific chart
types that do extremely well.
- Line
- Dual-Axis Line
- Column
Questions to Ask When Deciding Which Type of Chart
to Use
Do you want to better understand the relationship between value
sets?
Relationship charts are suited to showing how one variable relates
to one or numerous different variables. You could use this to show
how something positively affects, has no effect, or negatively affects
another variable.
- Scatter Plot
- Bubble
- Line
Different Types of Graphs and Charts for Presenting Data
Column Chart
A column chart is used to show a comparison among different items,
or it can show a comparison of items over time. You could use this
format to see the revenue per landing page or customers by the
close date.
Different Types of Graphs and Charts for Presenting Data
Bar Graph
A bar graph, basically a horizontal column chart, should be used to
avoid clutter when one data label is long or if you have more than 10
items to compare. This type of visualization can also be used to
display negative numbers.
Different Types of Graphs and Charts for Presenting Data
Line Graph
A line graph reveals trends or progress over time and can be used to
show many different categories of data. You should use it when you
chart a continuous data set.
Different Types of Graphs and Charts for Presenting Data
Dual Axis Chart
A dual-axis chart allows you to plot data using two y-axis and a
shared x-axis. It's used with three data sets, one of which is based
on a continuous set of data and another which is better suited to
being grouped by category. This should be used to visualize a
correlation or the lack thereof between these three data sets.
Different Types of Graphs and Charts for Presenting Data
Area Chart
An area chart is basically a line chart, but the space between the x-
axis and the line is filled with a colour or pattern. It is useful for
showing part-to-whole relations, such as showing individual sales
reps' contribution to total sales for a year. It helps you analyse both
overall and individual trend information.
Different Types of Graphs and Charts for Presenting Data
Stacked Bar Chart
This should be used to compare many different items and show the
composition of each item being compared.
Different Types of Graphs and Charts for Presenting Data
Mekko Chart
Also known as a Marimekko chart, this type of graph can compare
values, measure each one's composition, and show how your data is
distributed across each one.
Different Types of Graphs and Charts for Presenting Data
Pie Chart
A pie chart shows a static number and how categories represent part
of a whole the composition of something. A pie chart represents
numbers in percentages, and the total sum of all segments needs to
equal 100%.
Different Types of Graphs and Charts for Presenting Data
Scatter Plot Chart
A scatter plot or scattergram chart will show the relationship between
two different variables or it can reveal the distribution trends. It
should be used when there are many different data points, and you
want to highlight similarities in the data set. This is useful when
looking for outliers or for understanding the distribution of your data.
Different Types of Graphs and Charts for Presenting Data
Bubble Chart
A bubble chart is similar to a scatter plot in that it can show
distribution or relationship. There is a third data set, which is
indicated by the size of the bubble or circle.
Different Types of Graphs and Charts for Presenting Data
Waterfall Chart
A waterfall chart should be used to show how an initial value is
affected by intermediate values either positive or negative and
resulted in a final value. This should be used to reveal the
composition of a number. An example of this would be to showcase
how overall company revenue is influenced by different departments
and leads to a specific profit number.
Different Types of Graphs and Charts for Presenting Data
Funnel Chart
A funnel chart shows a series of steps and the completion rate for
each step. This can be used to track the sales process or the
conversion rate across a series of pages or steps.
Different Types of Graphs and Charts for Presenting Data
Bullet Graph
A bullet graph reveals progress toward a goal, compares this to
another measure, and provides a context in the form of a rating or
performance.
Different Types of Graphs and Charts for Presenting Data
Heat Map
A heat map shows the relationship between two items and provides
rating information, such as high to low or poor to excellent. The
rating information is displayed using varying colours or saturation.
Data Visualization Best Practices
Have a methodology
Define a process by which you obtain your design requirements, obtain your
data, design visuals, and release them. Only a well-defined methodology will
ensure continuous quality improvement and consistent quality in your data
visuals.
Know Your Audience
Not all end-users will perceive the same information the same way. For
example, on a profitability dashboard, a Sales Manager and a Chief Financial
Officer will have very different ways of understanding profitability. Make sure you
answer the question properly for their perspective
Data Visualization Best Practices
Defined resulting actions
What actions would you expect your end-users might take after they look at your
dashboard? The action may even be “nothing” in the event the dashboard
indicates everything is progressing fine. For example, if it’s a dashboard on
manufacturing defects, it’s reasonable to think your end-users might need to go
talk to an operator or inspect a specific machine if the defect rate suddenly
increases
Classify your dashboard
There are three types of dashboards: operational, strategic/executive, and
analytical. Know what each one is, the general traits of each, and classify your
dashboard as one of these three. This will help guide your initial design
decisions.
Data Visualization Best Practices
Profile Your Data
There are three types of data: categorical, ordinal, and quantitative. Different
visual features work better with different types of data. For example, scatter
plots work well with two pieces of quantitative data, whereas line charts work
best for date ordinal data… conversely line charts are a poor choice for (non-
ordinal) categorical data as line charts imply continuity. Make sure you know
what data your visual will be using.
Use Visual Features Properly
There is a hierarchy of effective visual features based on the type of data. Know
this hierarchy and apply it. Apply the effectiveness hierarchy with the type of
data and avoid common mistakes in using visual features.
Data Visualization Best Practices
Design
Don’t wait until your requirements are 100% understood. Visualization requires
an understanding of the visual concept your end-users have conceived and your
ability to understand their visual needs. This is a notoriously difficult thing to
accomplish, so don’t wait around to try and ensure you have a 100% agreement
between you and your end users.
Data Analysis Presentation
There are a couple of key components that are important to making a good
presentation that involves data analysis, the first and I think the most
important thing you want to have in a presentation is to state the question
that you're trying to answer, it's important, upfront, that you not assume that
everyone is on the same page, that everyone has the same background, but
to state the question clearly and succinctly so that everyone knows what the
goal is
Another thing that I like to do that I think is very useful is to show the data It's
often helpful or tempting to just show summaries, or just not even data
summaries, but just kind of summaries in words of what the results are. But
it's actually very useful to show the data. to this extent, I find plots are better
than tables, plots are very useful for producing discussion and encouraging
people to think about the data.
Thanks!
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