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Effective Data Presentation Techniques for Clear Communication

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Presentation Transcript

  1. Presenting Data

  2. Communication • The goal of presenting data is to communicate ideas • Communication is not what you say but what your audience grasps • Know your audience • Be clear and precise • The simpler, the better • Eschew obfuscation

  3. Including Numbers • Text, table, or graph? • Text = 3 – 4 numbers • Table = < 20 • Graph = > 10 • Whole numbers • 0 – 9 should be written as words • 10 and greater should be written as digits • Decimals should have proper number of significant figures

  4. Data Summaries • Large amounts of data can be summarized using tables and plots • Focus on data • Tables and graphs should be self-explanatory • Text should mention key points • Final version should agree with text (and vice versa) • Tables • Best used when numerical details are important • Best used when there are few (< 20) values • Also used to show data that cannot be smoothly incorporated in the text or shown as a plot • Plots • Graphs and charts • Graphs have a continuous scale on the x-axis • Charts have a discrete or categorical scale on the x-axis • Used to show trends and relationships

  5. Tables • Numerical data displayed in rows and columns • Patterns and exceptions should stand out • Clarity • Each column should have a clear and accurate heading • Reading down is easier than reading across • Make comparisons in columns • Widely spaced columns make comparisons difficult • CAREFUL use of lines, shading, fonts can enhance (or detract!) from readability

  6. Tables • Simplicity • Large tables can be overwhelming • Break them up, if possible • Omit columns that can be easily calculated from others • Try to combine minor or less relevant categories into one larger category • Small fonts are nobody’s friend • Tips • Title or caption goes at the top of the table • Units of measurement in column headings • Within text, refer to table as (Table 1) not “See Table 1”

  7. Plots • Many different types of plots • Scatter and bar plots most common (for us) • Avoid pie plots • Be aware that details are often lost with plots • Clear, thorough labeling • X-axis independent, Y-axis dependent • Horizontal labeling easiest to read • Keep it simple! • Avoid software/graphic gimmicks • Default values are not always best • Clarity is much more important than attractiveness • 3-D plots (especially bar plots) can be difficult to interpret

  8. Plots • Tips • Each figure should have a number, title, and legend • Legend should have enough information so that reader does not have to go to text • Titles and legends go below the figure • Label each axis and provide units • X-axis does not have to start at 0, Y-axis does, unless negative values are included

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