11 December 2006

Calvin F Schmid - Collected Quotes

"Although the pie or sector chart ranks very high in popular appeal, it is held in rather low esteem by many specialists in graphic presentation. Since the pie chart possesses more weaknesses perhaps than most graphic forms, it is especially important to observe proper discretion in its construction and application. The pie chart is used to portray component relations. The various sectors of a circle represent component parts of an aggregate or total." (Calvin F Schmid, "Handbook of Graphic Presentation", 1954)

"An organization chart portrays every essential part of an organization in its proper relation to all other parts. More specifically, it shows the relation of one official or department or function to another; titles and sometimes names of officials, and names of departments and their functions; and sources, lines, and types of authority." (Calvin F Schmid, "Handbook of Graphic Presentation", 1954) 

"As a general rule it is recommended that the bar chart be used for simple comparison, particularly if there are more than four or five categories." (Calvin F Schmid, "Handbook of Graphic Presentation", 1954)

"Charts and graphs represent an extremely useful and flexible medium for explaining, interpreting, and analyzing numerical facts largely by means of points, lines, areas, and other geometric forms and symbols. They make possible the presentation of quantitative data in a simple, clear, and effective manner and facilitate comparison of values, trends, and relationships. Moreover, charts and graphs possess certain qualities and values lacking in textual and tabular forms of presentation." (Calvin F Schmid, "Handbook of Graphic Presentation", 1954)

"First, it is generally inadvisable to attempt to portray a series of more than four or five categories by means of pie charts. If, for example, there are six, eight, or more categories, it may be very confusing to differentiate the relative values portrayed, especially if several small sectors are of approximately the same size. Second, the pie chart may lose its effectiveness if an attempt is made to compare the component values of several circles, as might be found in a temporal or geographical series. In such case the one-hundred percent bar or column chart is more appropriate. Third, although the proportionate values portrayed in a pie chart are measured as distances along arcs about the circle, actually there is a tendency to estimate values in terms of areas of sectors or by the size of subtended angles at the center of the circle." (Calvin F Schmid, "Handbook of Graphic Presentation", 1954)

"The bar chart is one of the most useful, simple, adaptable, and popular techniques in graphic presentation. The simple bar chart. with its many variations, is particularly appropriate for comparing the magnitude, or size, of coordinate items or of parts of a total. The basis of comparison in the bar chart is linear or one-dimensional. The length of each bar or of its components is proportional to the quantity or amount of each category' represented. " (Calvin F Schmid, "Handbook of Graphic Presentation", 1954)

"The number of grid lines should be kept to a minimum. This means that there should be just enough coordinate lines in the field so that the eye can readily interpret the values at any point on the curve. No definite rule can be specified as to the optimum number of lines in a grid. This must be left to the discretion of the chart-maker and can come only from experience. The size of the chart, the type and range of the data. the number of curves, the length and detail of the period covered, as well as other factors, will help to determine the number of grid lines." (Calvin F Schmid, "Handbook of Graphic Presentation", 1954)

"The trilinear chart is used to portray simultaneously three variables expressed in the form of elements or components of a total. It is characteristically a one-hundred percent chart, since the sum of the three values indicated is equal to 100 percent. The trilinear chart is drawn in the form of an equilateral triangle, each side of which is calibrated in equal percentage divisions ranging from zero to 100. The rulings are projected across the chart parallel to the sides in the manner of coordinates." (Calvin F Schmid, "Handbook of Graphic Presentation", 1954)

"Where the values of a series are such that a large part the grid would be superfluous, it is the practice to break the grid thus eliminating the unused portion of the scale, but at the same time indicating the zero line. Failure to include zero in the vertical scale is a very common omission which distorts the data and gives an erroneous visual impression." (Calvin F Schmid, "Handbook of Graphic Presentation", 1954)

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