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Scientific Research Methods in Geography Chapter 10 Feb 9, 2010.

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1 Scientific Research Methods in Geography Chapter 10 Feb 9, 2010

2 Data Display… … is a Graphical Technique for communication and analysis that depicts data patterns rather than literally describing them. … allows relevant properties of phenomena to be highlighted and clarified. … is used by scientists for several purposes including: Initial data examination Interpret the meaning of data Communicate data and meaning to others.

3 Guidelines for Designing Displays Guiding principles for the design and use of data displays boil down to one underlying idea: Effective Communication. Effective Communication means - Communicating a great deal of truthful and relevant information in a manner that is: Clear Accurate Unambiguous Efficient Aesthetically Pleasing

4 Tables Organized lists, arrays, or matrices of data. Show data values directly with numbers. Only minimal use of spatiality. Tables Depict Data in Two Ways: Distribution Tables Show Frequency Relative frequency, cumulative frequency Contingency tables Descriptive Index Tables Shows tendency, variability, relationship

5 Tables continued Metric-level data in tables Grouped into classes or intervals to efficiently communicate the pattern of the data. “Class Intervals” How many classes are appropriate: At least 3 or 4 and probably no more than 10 Specific to the data set and what is intended to be communicated

6 Graphs Pictorial representations of data. The use of spatial properties such as: Location Size Distance Direction 3 Dictums to follow from table 10.1: Label Clearly and Sufficiently Avoid Uninformative and Content-Free Graphic Marks Fill the Graph Space with Data Marks

7 What Types of Graphs are These? What are their uses?

8 Examples of Global Warming Graphs

9 Maps In this context… maps are graphical displays that depict earth-referenced features and data. “Take at least one Cartography Course” Reference Maps: Depict actual earth surface features as accurately as possible Locations are encoded with a coordinate system Thematic Maps Special purpose displays Hybrid “map-graph” that uses geographic space as a base

10 Maps always distort the earth’s surface and features. Generalizations need to be made when creating a map. Not all levels of detail can be depicted on a map. Symbology and Color schema are important to consider. Sometimes Distortions are part of the communication. (http://www.math.yorku.ca/SCS/Gallery/images/cartogram/statecartredblue.png) (http://blogs.sas.com/jmp/uploads/choropleth1.png)

11 New Trends in Scientific Visualization Information Visualization is key to exploratory data analysis, especially with large spatially and temporally distributed data sets. Buzzwords: Geo-visualization Spatialization Animations Augmented Reality / Virtual Reality Multisensory display technologies: sonification tactilizations Bottom Line: No matter how “gee whiz” the visualization technique is, it needs to meet the requirements of effectively communicating data.

12 Class Exercise Think of a Data Display example that you have created or viewed that is particularly effective. What made it effective? Can you reproduce it on the white board?


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