1 Eric Rasmusen, Eric Rasmusen, 7 November 2006 Graphs and Tables
2 Principles of Graphs 1. Keep the data-to-ink ratio high. 2. Erase data-ink for useless data. 3. Erase non-data ink. 4. Don't use Moire patterns. 5. Don't use boxes and grids. 6. Don't use cute pictures that obscure what you are saying. 7. Consider labelling individual data points of special interest. 8. Write text horizontally, not vertically. 9. Make the figure self-contained. Don't require the reader to refer to the text or a previous table. Include the source and the units of measurement. 10. Number and title every figure.
3 Principles of Tables 1. Keep the data-to-ink ratio high. 2. Leave out dividing lines and boxes unless you have a good reason for them. 3. Leave off repetitive, useless numbers. 4. Don't use just capital letters. 5. Circle or otherwise mark important numbers, in particular, ones you mention in the text or talk. 6. Make the table self-contained. Don't require the reader to refer to the text or a previous table. Include the source and the units of measurement. 7. Number and title every table.
4 Some Good Graphics FollowSome Good Graphics Follow
5
6
7 Uniform Crime Reports: Crime in the United StatesUniform Crime Reports: Crime in the United States, Section IV
8
9http://rru.worldbank.org/Documents/PapersLinks/RI%20Final%20Guatemalai.pdf
11 ue_Creation_Nov05.pdf
12 ue_Creation_Nov05.pdf
13 Edward Tufte The Visual Display of Quantitative Information (1983)(pictures of numbers) The Visual Display of Quantitative Information (1983)(pictures of numbers) Envisioning Information (1990) (pictures of nouns) Envisioning Information (1990) (pictures of nouns) Visual Explanations (1997) (pictures of verbs). Visual Explanations (1997) (pictures of verbs).
14
15 msg?msg_id=0000SI&topic_id=1&topic=Ask%20E%2eT%2e msg?msg_id=0000SI&topic_id=1&topic=Ask%20E%2eT%2e New York Times, March 20, 2003, p. D1 msg?msg_id=0000SI&topic_id=1&topic=Ask%20E%2eT%2e
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24