Lesson 6-3 explained: Data Visualization and Communication

Lesson summary

Visualization turns numbers into patterns the eye can grasp — to help the analyst think and to communicate. Common graphs suit one or two variables; heatmaps and mosaic plots handle more combinations. Good communication uses data storytelling: a clear message, only the elements that serve it, and honest labels.

Takeaway: Match the graph to the data (heatmap for a value across two axes; mosaic plot for two categories by area; scatter/bar/line for one or two variables), then tell a data story: one message, only the elements that serve it, honest labels — and check it lands with the audience.

Key terms

• Data visualization
• Heatmap
• Overplotting
• Mosaic plot
• Data storytelling
• Cross-tabulation
• Misleading graph

Textbook page: Arabic book 42 · English book 48

Free questions on this lesson

From the textbook question bank. Think of the answer first, then open it.

1. 1. What is data visualization?

   • Predicting future values with an equation
   • Showing data as graphs or figures so its features can be grasped by eye
   • Deleting unimportant data from a table
   • Writing the data in a long table of numbers
   Answer

   Correct answer: Showing data as graphs or figures so its features can be grasped by eye

   Data visualization shows data as graphs or figures so features hard to read from numbers alone can be seen.

   1. The Role of Data Visualization · page 49

2. 2. When does overplotting usually appear?

   • When we use a bar graph
   • When we add a color key
   • When there are very few points
   • When the number of points in a scatter plot grows large
   Answer

   Correct answer: When the number of points in a scatter plot grows large

   Overplotting comes with many points, which merge into a blob whose density cannot be read.

   2. Overplotting · page 50

3. 3. Why might two audiences understand the same result differently?

   • Depth of understanding changes greatly with how the result is conveyed
   • Because the data changes at each presentation
   • Because graphs never affect understanding
   • Because audiences never read titles
   Answer

   Correct answer: Depth of understanding changes greatly with how the result is conveyed

   The same result can land with different depth depending on how it is shown, so a clear story matters.

   3. Data Storytelling · page 51

Lessons in this chapter 6: Analysis and Communication

1. 6-1 Statistical Inference
2. 6-2 Use and Evaluation of Regression Analysis
3. 6-3 Data Visualization and Communication