1. Visual Analysis: The Value of Graphics for Risk Communications - RMG211 Spring Training: Correcting Common Mistakes Regular Season: Cutting Costs/Become a Hero Post Season: Raising your Batting Average Visual Analysis: The Value of Graphics for Risk Communications - RMG2111

2. Richard Denning President, Shelter Island Risk Services Phone: (631) 749-1535 e-mail: rfdenning@sirisk.comrfdenning@sirisk.com Website: http://www.shelterislandrisk.com/ Libby Christman Vice President of Risk Management, Ahold USA Phone: (717) 240 - 5573 e-mail: lchristman@ahold.colchristman@ahold.co Website: http://www.Ahold.com/ Naomi Robins Consultant and seminar leader on effective data presentation Principal, NBR Phone: (973) 694 - 6009 e-mail: Naomi@NBR-GRAPHS.comNaomi@NBR-GRAPHS.com Website: http://www.NBR-Graphs.com/

3. How to Avoid Common Graphical Mistakes RIMS Philadelphia, PA 18 April, 2012 Copyright © 2012, Naomi B. Robbins

4. Graphical Mistakes Not making the data stand out Misleading the audience Problems with tick marks and labels

5. Make the data stand out. Factors that keep data from standing out: Clutter – Too many percent signs – Too many trailing zeros – Unnecessary dimensions Lack of contrast for model or data Graphical elements that hide data Colors that not all can distinguish

6. Before and After

7. Too many dollar signs and percent signs

8. Unnecessary 3D effect

9. Lack of Contrast

10. Do you notice the point on the x axis?

11. Data and axis labels conflict

12. Avoid color combinations that not all can distinguish. Simulation from www.vischeck.com

13. Red and green can cause problems.

14. How some see last slide

15. Avoid misleading the audience Equally spaced tick marks for unequal intervals Comparisons with different scales Bar graphs with no zero Figure not to scale Difference between curves

16. Data with uneven intervals

17. Data with even intervals

18. Comparison

19. Unequal intervals

20. Actuarial: Time handled correctly

21. Inconsistent Use of Color

22. Bar Graph with No Zero

23. Not drawn to scale

24. Draw the data to scale.

25. Number of police officers redrawn

26. Difference between Curves

27. Problems with tick marks and labels Too many labels Labels hard to read Tick marks not at round numbers Uneven number of decimal places Labels not proofread

28. Too many labels

29. No legend outside of text

30. Proofread Graphs

31. Linked Micro-maps Visualizing Data Patterns with Micromaps by Dan Carr and Linda Pickle