Introduction to Data Visualization: Key Points

The Importance of Message

A chart visualizes data relationships in a format that people can see instead of read.
The purpose of a chart is to communicate.
Data arranged in a table and a message about the data are two of the three components of a chart.
A chart’s message drives decision-making and problem-solving.

There are four graphical elements that can represent data on a chart. The appearance of these elements can be modified with any of ten possible visual properties.
Research suggests that many people can evaluate some of these visual representations more quickly and with more accuracy than others.
Visual representations that are easier to perceive accurately support a chart’s message.
Visual representations that are more difficult to perceive accurately obscure a chart’s message.

Identifying the data type helps to narrow the choices of available charts for to convey your message.
Charts convey messages with interchangeable nouns and verbs.
Comparison, composition, distribution, and relationships are four very common messages in charts.
Practice with linking chart types with data types is a valuable skill

Identify if you are communicating a comparison, distribution, composition, relationship.
Use the chart chooser a good chart for your particular dataset.
Choose the tool you will be using to generate your chart
Import your data making sure your data is “clean” and “tidy”.