Types of data visualisations VCE IT – UNIT 2 Types of data visualisations Term 2 – Week 9

Types of data visualisations We now have more data and information available than ever before. It was estimated in 2010 that we are bombarded by up to 34 GB of data every day. New data-visualisation tools are being developed every day to change data into usable information. Data visualisation in a visual representation of data that would normally be hard to derive meaning from. Visual forms of data can help provide clarity and provide a snap shot of the information. Easier to understand faster.

The four main ways in which data visualisation can be used are: Comparing data Showing distribution of data Showing relationships between data Showing the composition of data

Data visualisations to compare data Comparing data is one of the most common practices for businesses (e.g. How much was sold last month as opposed to this month?). Comparative visualisations are usually easy to set up and understand. Charts are the most commonly used. Column charts, bar charts, line charts, pie charts and comparative maps are types of charts that compare to data sets.

Pie graph – retrieved from: http://iphonews.com/blog/index.php?tag=uk

Comparative map - retrieved from http://www. maximizingprogress

Line chart - retrieved from http://peltiertech

Data visualisations to show distribution of data Distribution of data can be used to analyse when an event is happening across a timeframe. Not comparing data, looking at how data relates to a fixed item such as time, date etc. Some common data visualisations to show distribution of data are column histograms, line histograms and scatter charts.

Using a column histogram, it is far easier to understand and identify patters compared with raw data. Column histogram – retrieved from http://members6.boardhost.com/Charts/msg/1179950254.html

The most common line histogram is the bell curve The most common line histogram is the bell curve. Used by many educational institutes to ensure there is a spread of results. Line histogram (bell curve) – retrieved from http://expressiveepicurean.wordpress.com/2010/01/21/the-curse-of-being-average/

Can be used to show a distribution of data against a fixed unit. Scatter chart – retrieved from http://statisticshelp.com/online-statistics-home

Data visualisations to show relationships between data Showing a relationship between two or more data sets is a little more complex and requires more planning. It is important to understand what you are trying to communicate in order to organise the data and best visually represent the information. Can use scatter charts and bubble charts.

The size of bubbles represent a size or percentage. Bubble chart - retrieved from http://www.dodlab.nl/2010/11/23/how-to-make-bubble-charts/

Data visualisations to show composition of data The most common use for a data visualisation composition is to show how sets of data change over time. For example, take a look at the following chart: http://www.google.com/publicdata/explore?ds=ltjib1m1uf3pf_&ctype=l&strail=false&nselm=h&met_y=obesity_t1i&scale_y=lin&ind_y=false&rdim=country_group&idim=country_group:oecd:non-oecd&idim=country:AUS:USA&hl=en&dl=en

Use www.google.com/publicdata/directory to investigate: What country in Europe pays the lowest minimum wage? What continent/region had the highest average time to discover disease outbreak in 2000? Which high school in Los Angeles had the lowest average education level of parents? Indicate what type of data visualisation you found most useful in obtaining meaning.