Problem Set #2 - Introduction to Data Visualizations

Intro to Data Visualizations

Directions

In this chapter we discussed why well-designed data graphics are important and we described a taxonomy for understanding their composition.

The objective of this assignment is for you to understand what characteristics you can use to develop a great data graphic.

Each question is worth 5 points.

To submit this homework you will create the document in Rstudio, using the knitr package (button included in Rstudio) and then submit the document to your Rpubs account. Once uploaded you will submit the link to that document on Canvas. Please make sure that this link is hyper linked and that I can see the visualization and the code required to create it.

Question #1

Answer the following questions for this graphic Relationship between ages and psychosocial maturity

1. Identify the visual cues, coordinate system, and scale(s)

   1. Visual cues:

      • color, shape, size/length, position

   2. Coordinate system:

      • Cartesian

   3. Scale(s):

      • time (in years)
        
2. How many variables are depicted in the graph? Explicitly link each variable to a visual cue that you listed above.

• Menarche and Psychosocial maturation depicted in terms of age and number of years ago

• 20,00 years ago: Color was used to indicate Menarche and Psychosocial maturation, length was also used as Psychosocial maturation appears longer than Menarche

• 2,000 years ago: Color and length visual cues used to indicate Menarche and Psychosocial maturation, with Menarche appearling longer than Psychosocial maturation

• 200 years ago: Color, direction, position

• Present: Color, direction, position

3. Critique this data graphic using the taxonomy described in the lecture.

   • Menarche and psychosocial maturation can be distinguished using the data graphic’s color visual cues. It aims to demonstrate that menarche and psychosocial growth are currently out of sync. Additionally, the graphic’s scale depicts a temporal scale with a numerical quantity that possesses unique characteristics.

Question #2

Answer the following questions for this graphic World’s top 10 best selling cigarette brands 2004-2007

1. Identify the visual cues, coordinate system, and scale(s)

   • Visual cues:

     • color and length

   • Coordinate system:

     • Cartesian

   • Scale(s):

     • linear
2. How many variables are depicted in the graph? Explicitly link each variable to a visual cue that you listed above.

   • There are 2 variables are depicted in the graph:

     • sales in billions

     • brands

3. Critique this data graphic using the taxonomy described in the lecture.
   • There is a variety in the color choices, and none stood out more than the others. Marlboro’s length makes it obvious why it was the most popular cigarette brand between 2004 and 2007. However, I would prefer to see a sequential color scheme depicting the strength of sales, along with the length to compare the brands’ respective sales (in billions) against one another.

Question #3

Find two data graphics published in a newspaper on on the internet in the last two years.

1. Identify a graphical display that you find compelling. What aspects of the display work well, and how do these relate to the principles that we have just gone over in lecture. Include a screenshot of the display along with your solution.

-   The changing demographics of the US throughout time are depicted in this fascinating data visualization by Pew Research. This graphic makes effective use of bar charts. The darker tone, which represents baby boomers, is also recognizable. Overall, the graph is constructed in the most engaging and straightforward manner feasible.

2. Identify a graphical display that you find less compelling. What aspects of the display don’t work well? Are there ways that the display might be improved? Include a screenshot of the display along with your solution.

-   The above chart is one of the examples of bad data visualization. The problem is with the color chosen for the depicting the wickets and the average. As it can be seen that both the entities have been depicted by different shades of red and since they are incorporated within the same bar, it becomes difficult to differentiate between the two. I would use a divergent/contrasting color scheme instead of similar hues.

Question #4

Briefly (one paragraph) critique the designer’s choices. Would you have made different choices? Why or why not? Note: Link contains a collection of many data graphics, and I don’t expect (or want) you to write a full report on each individual graphic. But each collection shares some common stylistic elements. You should comment on a few things that you notice about the design of the collection.

What is a Data Scientist

Answer:

• The designer applied several visual cues, such as color, length, angle, shade, and size, to each data graphic while using a variety of chart formats. The presentation looks professional due to the usage of a single color scheme, and the chosen color scheme is both tasteful and effective. Each chart’s clever use of color and other visual cues ensures that it will be as instructive to audiences who are color blind. The presentation was simple to understand and each chart’s purpose was evident because each one carried a wealth of information. However, it looks that the presentation has both too many charts and too much information. This can cause some of the points to be missed. To improve this, I would separate the charts into separate groups of charts that offer relevant information and address the same issue where e ach group is distinct from the other that answers a question.

Question #5

Briefly (one paragraph) critique the designer’s choices. Would you have made different choices? Why or why not? Note: Link contains a collection of many data graphics, and I don’t expect (or want) you to write a full report on each individual graphic. But each collection shares some common stylistic elements. You should comment on a few things that you notice about the design of the collection.

Charts that explain food in America

Answer:

• Here, the designer provides a lot of information. At first glance, one can tell how much work was done to generate all the charts and provide detailed information for each. The designer used a geographic, radial and Cartesian coordinate system to explain the American food industry. Some tables are easy to read and understand, but some shades used to represent quantities are difficult to read. However, to improve the quality of the presentation, I recommend using less graphical data visualization and have a focus around a central theme.