Jonathan Schwabish

This book details essential strategies to create more effective data visualizations. Jonathan Schwabish walks readers through the steps of creating better graphs and how to move beyond simple line, bar, and pie charts.

A Guide for Scholars, Researchers, and Wonks

Better Data Visualizations

Pate Hubbard

Data visualization is a mix of science and art. Sometimes we want to be closer to the science side of the spectrum- in other words, use visualizations that allow readers to more accurately perceive the absolute values of data and make comparisons. Other times we may want to be closer to the art side of the spectrum and create visuals that engage and excite the reader, even if they do not permit the most accurate comparisons.

Sometimes you must make your visuals interesting and engaging, even at the cost of absolute perceptual accuracy. 

Readers may not be as interested in the topic as we hope or may not have enough expertise to immediately grasp the content. As content creators, however, our job is to encourage people to read and use the graph, even if we "violate" perceptual rules that we know will hamper someone's ability to make the most accurate conclusions.

Better Data Visualizations quotes

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