Slices, Bars, Lines, and Cells: More Information on Visuals By Dr. Jennifer L. Bowie

Using Visuals Always: –Give it a table or figure number –Provide a short descriptive title –Refer to it in your text while letting the reader know what they should be looking for (introduce & interpret it) –Provide a caption (optional, but necessary if the visual is not interpreted within the text) Label tables as tables and all other visuals as figures.

Examples of the correct use: In the survey, I also asked for year in college so I could compare differences based on college experience. Because the survey technical communication course is a sophomore-level course, I expected the largest number of students to be sophomores. However, there were equal numbers of sophomores and juniors who participated in the second level of research, 12 each. There were fewer first year students and seniors, four and five students respectively. Figure 4.4 shows a pie chart of the participants’ year in college. Figure 4.4: Participants’ Year in College The cream text shows the interpretation, the pink text shows my introduction of the visual.

Tables Best for organized lists of data May be harder to understand Two categories: –Numeric: present quantitative information –Prose: present qualitative information Use to: – present exact numbers/values and see exact comparisons –organize data so people can see relationships themselves

Tables: Numerical Example Gender and SexNumber of Participants Androgynous Females5 Androgynous Males5 Undifferentiated Females5 Undifferentiated Males2 Feminine Females5 Feminine Males2 Masculine Females4 Masculine Males5 Table 4.1: Stratified Categories of Participants in Level Two by Gender and Sex

Tables: Prose Example Area Examined for Sex/Gender Differences Research Question Methods Navigation methods1aCoded observations from the usability testing and answers from interview questions (specifically 3 and 8) Orientation behaviors1bCoded observations from the usability testing and answers from interview questions (specifically 3 and 7) Back button use (frequency and types of use) 1cCoded observations from the usability testing and answers from interview questions (specifically 8) Table 1.1: Methods Used for the Research Questions and Corresponding Areas

Graphs: Display numeric relationships between data sets Translate numbers into visuals Display approximate values Good for making judgments about data Best for comparisons, changes over time, patterns or trends Horizontal axis list categories to be compared Vertical axis displays range of values 2 major types…

Graphs: Bar Graphs Show discrete comparison Each bar represents a change in quantity Best used to either –Focus on one value OR –Compare values that change over time intervals

Graphs: Bar Graphs Example Figure 4.1: Stratified Categories of Participants by Gender and Sex

Graphs: Line Graphs Can accommodate more data points than a bar graph Help readers synthesize large bodies of info where exact values are not important Display data with values that change over time

Graphs: Line Graphs Example Table 1: Patrons Trends for 2003

Charts Figures that displays relationships Several types: –Pie Charts –Organizational Charts –Flowcharts –Gantt & PERT Charts –Pictograms

Charts: Pie Charts Show parts or percentages of a whole Normally easy to understand Allow easy comparison of parts to each other and whole When creating make sure: –Parts add up to a whole (100%) –Number of segments range from 2-8 –Small segments can be combined into “other” category –Keep labels horizontal for ease of reading

Charts: Pie Charts Example Figure 4.2.A: Distribution of Females into the Four Genders

Charts: Organizational Charts Divide organization into management or administrative parts

Charts: Flowcharts Traces process or procedures from beginning to end Shows the steps in process

Charts: Tree charts Shows how parts of concept or idea relate to each other (outlines, family trees).. From:

Charts: Gantt and PERT Charts Gantt: –Shows process as a function of time –Good for planning and tracking time PERT: –Related to Gantt –Used for scheduling activities on a project From:

Charts: Pictograms/Pictographs Show numerical relationships with icons or symbols of the measures instead of bars or lines Good for non- technical and multicultural audiences (as long as the icon transfers) From: html#anchor590137

Graphic Illustrations Show physical relationships, instead of numerical relationships Include: –Diagrams –Maps –Drawings –Photographs From:

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