Fine-tune your graphs by discussing this question with your colleagues: should our graph’s axes extend to the dataset’s actual maximum value or to the potential maximum value? Option A: Axis stretches just past the actual maximum value (30% in this example) The biggest number is 26%, and…
Back in 2014, we launched the Data Visualization Checklist. Today, we bring you the updated version! Download the Data Visualization Checklist (Free) What’s included in the updated Data Visualization Checklist? Stephanie and I tweaked five items: Text size is hierarchical and readable Labels are used…
I was recently working with an organization to improve their graphs for an upcoming conference presentation. Notice anything funny about the height of these bars? The shortest bar, for 2012, represents 26,000 youth. But the tallest bar, for 2010, represents 27,000 youth. 26,000 and 27,000…
The only thing I love more than analyzing research data is analyzing personal finance data. In both cases, simple descriptive statistics and basic charts can shine a spotlight on interesting patterns and help people choose their course of action. Not too long ago, a friend…
This post has been a long time coming. Stephanie Evergreen and I knew some time ago that evaluators and social scientists had a thirst for better graphs, a clear understanding of why better graphs were necessary, but they lacked efficient guidance on how, exactly, to make…