Make geographic data visual
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This document provides recommendations for displaying data visually rather than in tables. It suggests putting less clear data in tables and more meaningful data in charts where trends can be seen more easily. An example is given of sales data over 12 months that is harder to understand in a table but where one rep's increasing sales stand out in a chart. The document also shows how blank maps can be filled in with colors to display geographic data visually, with an example of a color-coded US primary election map. It concludes that visualizing data takes little effort but can greatly improve understanding.
Make geographic data visual
- 1. Make Geographic Data Visual DouglasGPratt.com
- 2. www.PersonalChange.info DouglasGPratt.com
- 3. Displaying data in a table can make it difficult to read. State 2010 Census 2000 Census Average 2010 Average 2000 Ca l i forni a 37.3 33.9 16.7 15.2 Texa s 25.1 20.9 16.7 15.2 New York 19.4 19.0 16.7 15.2 Fl ori da 18.8 16.0 16.7 15.2 Il l i noi s 12.8 12.4 16.7 15.2 Penns yl va ni a 12.7 12.3 16.7 15.2 Ohi o 11.5 11.4 16.7 15.2 Mi chi ga n 9.9 9.9 16.7 15.2 Georgi a 9.7 8.2 16.7 15.2 North Ca rol i na 9.5 8.0 16.7 15.2
- 4. How to display data (a recommendation) Put bad data in a table and good data in a chart. In this sales example, Bob and Erica have 12 months of decreasing sales Representative Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Anna 86 90 96 93 93 80 80 96 91 89 83 99 Bob 97 94 92 89 87 84 82 80 78 75 73 71 Charlene 87 93 98 98 98 100 96 92 92 94 97 99 David 81 82 84 85 87 88 90 91 93 95 96 98 Erica 99 96 94 91 89 86 84 81 79 77 75 73 However, David increased his sales every month. Using a chart, his progress is easy to see compared with the average monthly sales. = It is difficult to see trends in a table.
- 5. GOP Primary Data In this election year, I wanted to know when Tennessees primary is scheduled. Using Bing.com, I found the following website: http://www.2012presidentialelectionnews.com/2012-republican-primary-schedule/ Part of table
- 6. Blank map using Bing.com
- 7. Final results using Paint I imported the map into Microsoft Paint and used the fill tool to add the appropriate colors to the states. Finally, I added a legend to help orient viewers to the color scheme.
- 8. In conclusion It only takes a little Focus on data that you effort to visually Even simple tools see and ask, How transform data into can be used. could this be presented information. visually?
- 9. Connect www.PersonalChange.info @DouglasGPratt