Introduction to Data Visualization
Principles for turning datasets into clear visual explanations
Original educational reference document
Purpose of Visualization
Data visualization turns numerical or categorical information into visual representations that make
comparisons, patterns, distributions, and relationships easier to inspect. Good design begins with a clear
analytical question.
Key considerations: define purpose of visualization clearly; identify the evidence or mechanisms
involved; distinguish common examples from exceptions; and consider how context can change the
interpretation.
Practical perspective: a useful way to study this topic is to explain it in your own words, connect it to one
concrete example, and identify one limitation or uncertainty.
Choosing a Chart
Data visualization turns numerical or categorical information into visual representations that make
comparisons, patterns, distributions, and relationships easier to inspect. Good design begins with a clear
analytical question.
Key considerations: define choosing a chart clearly; identify the evidence or mechanisms involved;
distinguish common examples from exceptions; and consider how context can change the interpretation.
Practical perspective: a useful way to study this topic is to explain it in your own words, connect it to one
concrete example, and identify one limitation or uncertainty.
Scale and Axes
Data visualization turns numerical or categorical information into visual representations that make
comparisons, patterns, distributions, and relationships easier to inspect. Good design begins with a clear
analytical question.
Key considerations: define scale and axes clearly; identify the evidence or mechanisms involved;
distinguish common examples from exceptions; and consider how context can change the interpretation.
Practical perspective: a useful way to study this topic is to explain it in your own words, connect it to one
concrete example, and identify one limitation or uncertainty.
Color and Visual Encoding
Data visualization turns numerical or categorical information into visual representations that make
comparisons, patterns, distributions, and relationships easier to inspect. Good design begins with a clear
analytical question.
Key considerations: define color and visual encoding clearly; identify the evidence or mechanisms
involved; distinguish common examples from exceptions; and consider how context can change the
interpretation.
Practical perspective: a useful way to study this topic is to explain it in your own words, connect it to one
concrete example, and identify one limitation or uncertainty.
Understanding Distributions
Data visualization turns numerical or categorical information into visual representations that make
comparisons, patterns, distributions, and relationships easier to inspect. Good design begins with a clear
analytical question.
Key considerations: define understanding distributions clearly; identify the evidence or mechanisms
involved; distinguish common examples from exceptions; and consider how context can change the
interpretation.
Practical perspective: a useful way to study this topic is to explain it in your own words, connect it to one
concrete example, and identify one limitation or uncertainty.
Showing Relationships
Data visualization turns numerical or categorical information into visual representations that make
comparisons, patterns, distributions, and relationships easier to inspect. Good design begins with a clear
analytical question.
Key considerations: define showing relationships clearly; identify the evidence or mechanisms involved;
distinguish common examples from exceptions; and consider how context can change the interpretation.
Practical perspective: a useful way to study this topic is to explain it in your own words, connect it to one
concrete example, and identify one limitation or uncertainty.
Communicating Uncertainty
Data visualization turns numerical or categorical information into visual representations that make
comparisons, patterns, distributions, and relationships easier to inspect. Good design begins with a clear
analytical question.
Key considerations: define communicating uncertainty clearly; identify the evidence or mechanisms
involved; distinguish common examples from exceptions; and consider how context can change the
interpretation.
Practical perspective: a useful way to study this topic is to explain it in your own words, connect it to one
concrete example, and identify one limitation or uncertainty.
Visualization Integrity
Data visualization turns numerical or categorical information into visual representations that make
comparisons, patterns, distributions, and relationships easier to inspect. Good design begins with a clear
analytical question.
Key considerations: define visualization integrity clearly; identify the evidence or mechanisms involved;
distinguish common examples from exceptions; and consider how context can change the interpretation.
Practical perspective: a useful way to study this topic is to explain it in your own words, connect it to one
concrete example, and identify one limitation or uncertainty.
Quick Reference
This introductory reference is designed as a structured starting point for further study. For academic or
professional work, consult specialist textbooks, primary research, standards, and authoritative datasets.