Rugaimukamu, D.M. Methodology of Research From Crafts of Research Chapter 12 Communicating Evidence Visually

Introduction Writers think about it only at the very end of their writing process Depending on ones field, should be thought at the first stage of drafting Helps presentation of evidence visually Research quality is judged by claims significance and arguments power Before that judgements what is written must be understood

…Cont With discreet items in the data e.g. list of names, objects etc. should be reduced to few word So doing will help leaders understand your data hence your arguments Visually through tables, charts, graphs, diagrams, maps

Visual or Verbal? Visual or verbal presentation of data depend on The kind of data How they can best be understood by readers How readers are expected to respond to them

Characteristics of data for visual presentation They include independent elements Independent elements are symmetrically related to quantities or qualities called dependent variables. examples

Independent elements and dependent variables The population of Oswego, Will and Tuttle countries fell as a result of a 3.1% drop in manufacturing from 1970 through 1990 and 65.9% in family farms in Tuttle alone …. Page 176 As a result, from 1983 through 1993, the population of these countries, steadily declined Turtle by 10,102 or 49.3%, from 20,502 to 10,400 … Page 176

Visual representation (>>) CountryIndustry1993 TuttleFarming20, 502 OswegoFarming15,792 WillMnfcrng16,651

General Principles of construction Plan what has to be accomplished by your table, chart or graph precision expected by your readers- use tables Rhetorical and visual impact to your readers Charts and graph are visually more striking Charts invites readers to make comparison Graphs invite readers to see a story If readers are to see point in the data Tables encourage readers to interpret the data Charts and graphs seem to make your point more directly

Three principles of construction The more organised, the better Identify patterns you want readers to notice The simpler the better Before or after readers sees those data, state the point that you think they make and that you want your reader to understand

Tables Are useful when you Want to convey precise values Have to present a large array of data Do not know or not want to say which aspects of the data will be most important to leaders Are objective and encourage readers to draw their own conclusion

Types of tables Are of two type Number tables Should help readers to see what you want them to. Such as comparing values, finding specific values etc. Word tables Should be used only for conceptual relationships that are straight forward

Examples StatusTaxes ($)% AlamedaTnshp BlytheVllge CapitalTnshp Only use word tables for conceptual relationships that are straightforward Word tables have the risk of being seen as reductive. Leaders feel that, you have oversimplified concepts Most readers will dismiss the second table as crude overgeneralization PeriodReligious beliefDesire for orderindividualism MediaevalVery highHighLow ModernLowVery highhigh

Charts Bar Charts, Pie charts, volume charts In general, help readers to understand generally not precisely Depending on the situation to be presented, an appropriate one can be selected (<<)

Graphs Do not easily communicate precise values Effectively, they can show rough relationships among many points

Controlling the rhetorical impact of a visual Generally, the kind of data should determine the kind of the visual But important to consider rhetorical impact you want to communicate

Visual Communication and Ethics When you select a visual for its impact, remember that your rhetorical decision has an ethical dimension Tell your story to get the right impact and your responsibility not just to the facts but to their appearance Extra careful need be taken on visual devices as they seem to present data so clearly and so powerfully.

Connecting words and pictures Visual can’t speak for themselves (>>) (>>) Should be labelled careful with the caption suggesting the point of the visual Tables and figures should be Labelled separately Kept close to the text discussing them Referred in the text body If possible, highlight the part of the image that is so important

Handle Claim Prepare Offer Handle Claim Verify Police Finalize Deal Determine Amount Whose Fault? Determine Fault Injury Info Doctor Appraiser Minimal Repairs Sufficient Treatment Appraise Damage Get Accident Info Police Witness Accident Information Insurance Company Handle Claim Goal (<<) (<<)

Illustrations Other than tables, charts and graph other visual tools are used to illustrate conceptual matters. General guidelines. Details on page 195. To illustrate thisUse this ProcessFlow chart, decision tree Logical relationshipsDiagram, matrix Object, action/step in a processLine drawing,drawing, photo Parts of a complex objectLine drawing, exploded view Spatial relationshipsLine drawing, drawing Complex details, research details Photo drawing

Making the logic of your organisation visible In some fields particularly humanities, writers use few visual resources to signal their logic Emphasize few words with italics, boldface but communicates their logic In other academic areas and almost all non academic areas writers use visual resources to help readers understand their logic You should assume that, most readers prefer to see information structured visually and when they do, will absorb more of it.