Visualization

Question 1

Charts
Timelines
Infographics

Answer 1

What are the three most common visualization techniques

Question 2

Tableau
MS-Excel
Tiki-Toki
Gapminder
D3.js
chart.js

Answer 2

What are some well known tools for visualization

Question 3

Column graphs, 
Bar graphs, 
Pie chart,
Linear charts
Scatter Plots

Answer 3

For COMPARING VALUES and show LOWS and HIGHS in value sets

Question 4

Pie chart,
Stacked Bar/ Stacked Column
Waterfall,
Area,

Answer 4

Show COMPOSITION

or how individual parts make a whole (device PER visitors, sales BY sales rep)

Question 5

Scatter Plot,
Linear graph,
Column graph /Bar graph

Answer 5

Show DISTRIBUTION of data

TENDENCIES, OUTLIERS, RANGES

Question 6

Linear graph,
Dual-Axis Line,
Bar graphs

Answer 6

Show TIME PERIOD trends

Question 7

Scatter Plots,
Bubble chart,
Linear graph

Answer 7

Show RELATIONSHIPS between sets

POSITIVE or NEGATIVE effects between variables

Question 8

Why are Column graphs primarily used: (vertical stick)

Answer 8

Show COMPARISON among different items or comparison over time

Question 9

Why are Bar graphs primarily used: (horizontal stick)

Answer 9

COMPARISONS,
& to AVOID CLUTTER if we have more that 10 items to compare or if one label is particularly long.
Also good to display NEGATIVE NUMBERS

Question 10

Why are Linear graphs primarily used: (connected dots)

Answer 10

To reveal TRENDS or PROGRESS over time.

Use when charting a continuous data set

Question 11

Design best practices for Line graphs:

Answer 11

Do not plot more than 4 lines to avoid visual distractions
Use solid lines only
Use the right height (scale) so the lines take roughly 2/3rds of the Y-Axis’ height

Question 12

Why are Dual-Axis graphs primarily used:

Answer 12

CORRELATION (or lack of) between data sets

Allow to chart using two Y-Axis sharing a same X-Axis

Question 13

Design best practices for Dual-Axis graphs:

Answer 13

Use different graphing styles to illustrate two data sets (ex:one Column, one Linear)
Y-Axis on the left side
Contrasting colors

Question 14

Why are Area graphs primarily used:

Answer 14

Is used to show ‘Part-to-Whole” relations
Helps analyze overall AND individual TREND information

Is basically a Line chart where the space between Line and X-Axis is filled with a color

Question 15

Design best practices for Area graphs:

Answer 15

Do not display more than four categories to avoid clutter
Highly variable variable data at the top makes it easier to read
Use transparent colors

Question 16

Why are Stacked Bars charts primarily used:

Answer 16

To show COMPARISON of different items, and their COMPOSITION as “part-to-whole” relationships

Question 17

Design best practices for Stacked Bars charts:

Answer 17

Make scale large enough for group sizes

Contrasting colors

Question 18

Why are Heat Maps primarily used:

Answer 18

Show RELATIONSHIPS between two items and

for RATING information (High to low, poor to excellent)

Question 19

Design best practices for Heat Maps:

Answer 19

Use a single color in various shades
Avoid multiple patterns
Basic and clear map outline

Question 20

Why are Bubble charts primarily used:

Answer 20

Show the DISTRIBUTION or RELATIONSHIPS between different variables
Similar to Scatter Plot

Question 21

Design best practices for Bubble charts:

Answer 21

Two datasets (X & Y) plus a third is the size of the Bubbles
Make clear and visible labels

Question 22

Why are Scatter Plots primarily used:

Answer 22

Shows the RELATIONSHIP between variables or
Reveals DISTRIBUTION TRENDS

Should be used when there are many different data points and we want to highlight similarities

Useful when looking for OUTLIERS

Question 23

Design best practices for Scatter Plots:

Answer 23

Include more variables - such as different sizes - to incorporate more data
When using trend lines, use a maximum of two - for easier understanding

Question 24

Why are Pie charts primarily used:

Answer 24

Shows a static number of how categories represent PARTS OF A WHOLE
COMPOSITION of something
Represents NUMBERS IN PERCENTAGE and must total to 100%

Question 25

Design best practices for Pie charts:

Answer 25

Order slices according to size

Don’t illustrate too many categories

Question 26

Why are Waterfall charts primarily used:

Answer 26

Shows how an initial value is affected by intermediate values and the resulted final value
Should show the COMPOSITION of a NUMBER
eg: how different departments lead to a company revenue