Presentation of Data Flashcards
What is the first thing we can use to present data?
- Flow Chart
What is a Flow Chart?
- Flow charts are simplifying devices that can be used to communicate quite complex relationships.
- They usually consist of boxed annotations linked by lines or arrows.
- They are used for putting across concepts and ideas, e.g. the hydrological cycle, the ecosystem or the spiral of unemployment.
What is the second thing we can use to present data?
- Logarithmic Graphs
What is a logarithmic Graph?
- Logarithmic graphs are used to compare things that differ enormously in size, for example the population growth.
- These are drawn on graph paper where the logarithmic scale compresses the range of values.
- It gives more space to the smaller values and reduces the amount of space for the larger values, showing relative growth clearly.
- On the scale, there are cycles of values. Each cycle increases by a larger amount, usually to the power of 10.
What is the third thing we can use to present data?
- Kite Diagram
What is a Kite Diagram?
- These show the change of a percentage over distance.
- They are most commonly used to show changes in the percentage cover of plant species/vegetation along a transect.
- They are: - Clear and easy to interpret and show the density and distribution of variables.
- However: - Not all data can be represented by these charts, and they are time-consuming to plot by hand
What is the fourth thing we can use to present data?
- Polar Graph
What is a Polar Graph?
- A polar graph is used to show direction as well as magnitude.
- It can compare multiple sets of data and lots of data can be put on one graph.
- It is very visual and individual variables within the diagram can be compared.
- No stats tests can be linked to them.
- It is hard to spot anomalies and it is hard to make a scale suitable.
What is the fourth thing we can use to present data?
- Triangulation Graphs
What is a Triangulation Graph?
- They are used to show data that can be divided into three parts.
- This might include data such as soil (sand silt + clay), employment (primary, secondary + tertiary and housing (terraced, detached + semi-detached).
What is the advantage and disadvantage of Triangulation Graphs?
- These graphs are tricky to construct - it is easy to get confused!
- Main advantage: allows a large amount of data to be shown in one diagram end, in many cases once plotted, value graphing become evident.
What is the fifth thing we can use to present data?
- Dispersion Diagrams
What is a Dispersion Diagram?
- A dispersion diagram shows the range of a set of data and their tendency to group or disperse. It may also be used for comparing two groups of data.
What are the advantages of a Dispersion Diagram?
- It shows the spread from the mean + they are very visual.
- It gives an indication of the reliability of the data.
- You can work out the mean, mode, range , median, lower quartile, upper quartile and interquartile range.
- Anomalies can be shown.
What is the single disadvantage of a Dispersion Diagram?
- You need lots of data.
What is the first map that we would use to present data?
- Flow Maps
What is a Flow Map?
- They are used to show the movement between places.
- A line is drawn between two locations and the thicker it is, the greater the data, the thinner it is, the less of data we have.
- A suitable scale and key should be selected.
What are the disadvantages of a Flow Map?
- The real distance and direction may be distorted.
- Movement can be to more than one place which makes the map busy and difficult to read.
What is the second map we can use to present data?
- Choropleth Maps
What is a Choropeth Map?
- This maps shows relative density per unit area.
- On maps, each area is shaded one colour, but data can vary within one location.
What is the advantage of a Choropleth Map?
- They are easy to construct and can give a striking visual impact.
What is the disadvantage of a Choropleth Map?
- The shading can appear very similar and therefore it is difficult to determine the correct values.
What is the third map we can use to present data?
- Dot Maps
What is a Dot Map?
- These can be used to show the distribution of features in an area.
- Each dot represents a different value.
- Different symbols can be used show more than one distribution on the same map.
What are the disadvantages of Dot Maps?
- Sometimes dots can overlap, therefore it is difficult to say for sure the location.
- Each dot only represents 1 value for an area - but data can vary within one location.
- If many sizes of dots are used, they may look too similar and there may human error when reading the data.
What is the fourth map type we can use to present data?
- Isoline Maps
What are Isoline Maps?
- Isolines are lines that join together to show places of equal value.
- Contour lines or isobars are the best examples to show height or air pressure in specific areas.
What are the disadvantages of Isoline Maps
- Each line represents only a specific value for an area - but data can vary within one location.
- For this to be effective, it requires data for a huge number of locations.
What is the fifth map we can use to present data?
- Proportional Symbol Maps
What are Proportional Symbol Maps?
- These maps use symbols such as bars or circles to represent data that varies from place to place.
What is the advantage of Proportional Symbol Maps?
- These maps have good visual impact as the symbol varies in size depending on the figure which is being represented
What are the disadvantages of Proportional Symbol Maps?
- Symbol congestion/overlap, especially if there are large variations in the size of symbols or if numerous data locations are close together.
- It may also be difficult to calculate an exact value as figures are rounded in a key.
