Making Data Visualization Work for You

Principles of Good Data Viz for the Busy Scientist



Julia Piaskowski

Feb 14, 2025

https://jpiaskowski.gitlab.io/talks/data-viz-guide/

Part 1: Using Data Visualization to Explore Your Data

EDA: Exploratory Data Analysis

  • Look at your data and make sure all is okay

  • This is (hopefully) a quick and easy process - use whatever software you feel most comfortable with

  • It doesn’t have to be pretty

  • Check every variable and covariate you plan to analyze

Distributions

Distributions

Cross Tabulations

Pairwise Relationships

Pairwise Relationships

Change Over Time

Part 2: Use Data Visualization to Make a Point

A Good Data Vizualization Will

  • Show the data - literally, let’s see some results!
  • Induce the viewer to focus on substance, not the design
  • Not distort the data
  • Present many numbers in a small space
  • Make large data sets coherent
  • Encourage viewers to compare different pieces of data
  • Reveal data at several levels, from a broad overview to fine detail
  • Serve a clear purpose
  • Be closely integrated with statistical methods and/or descriptions of a data set (reference them in your manuscript)

Image by Florence Nightingale

Soil Texture Triangle

Slave Voyages

Use Data Viz to Convey a Clear Point

  • Think about the message(s) you want the plot to convey
  • Draw your desired plot first on paper