"The visible figures by which principles are illustrated should, so far as possible, have no accessories. They should be magnitudes pure and simple, so that the thought of the pupil may not be distracted, and that he may know what features of the thing represented he is to pay attention to." (National Education Association, 1894)
"Most authors would greatly resent it if they were told that their writings contained great exaggerations, yet many of these same authors permit their work to be illustrated with charts which are so arranged as to cause an erroneous interpretation. If authors and editors will inspect their charts as carefully as they revise their written matter, we shall have, in a very short time, a standard of reliability in charts and illustrations just as high as now found in the average printed page." (Willard C Brinton, "Graphic Methods for Presenting Facts", 1919)
"Nothing is so illuminating as a set of properly proportioned diagrams. [...] In addition to the significance of graphics in analytical work, it is likewise a valuable aid to the memory. A picture is manifestly more readily retained in mind than a description of the same subject, no matter how vividly it may have been expressed. A pictorial or diagrammatic illustration usually produces a firmer and more lasting impression than any composition of words or tabulation of figures, however well they may be arranged or set forth." (Allan C Haskell, "How to Make and Use Graphic Charts", 1919)
"Though variety in method of charting is sometimes desirable in large reports where numerous illustrations must follow each other closely, or in wall exhibits where there must be a great number of charts in rapid sequence, it is better in general to use a variety of effects simply to attract attention, and to present the data themselves according to standard well-known methods." (Willard C Brinton, "Graphic Methods for Presenting Facts", 1919)
"Admittedly a chart is primarily a picture, and for presentation purposes should be treated as such; but in most charts it is desirable to be able to read the approximate magnitudes by reference to the scales. Such reference is almost out of the question without some rulings to guide the eye. Second, the picture itself may be misleading without enough rulings to keep the eye 'honest'. Although sight is the most reliable of our senses for measuring" (and most other) purposes, the unaided eye is easily deceived; and there are numerous optical illusions to prove it. A third reason, not vital, but still of some importance, is that charts without rulings may appear weak and empty and may lack the structural unity desirable in any illustration." (Kenneth W Haemer, "Hold That Line. A Plea for the Preservation of Chart Scale Ruling", The American Statistician Vol. 1" (1) 1947)
"The impression created by a chart depends to a great extent on the shape of the grid and the distribution of time and amount scales. When your individual figures are a part of a series make sure your own will harmonize with the other illustrations in spacing of grid rulings, lettering, intensity of lines, and planned to take the same reduction by following the general style of the presentation." (Anna C Rogers, "Graphic Charts Handbook", 1961)
"Remember, the primary function of a graph of any kind is to illustrate the relationship between two variables. [...] To draw any graph we must have established some relationship between the two variables. This relationship can be in the form of a formula" (equation is the more mathematical term), as we have just seen, or simply a set of observations, as is common in all types of statistical work. Sometimes we develop set of observations and then try to find an equation that expresses, in mathematical language, the relationship between the two variables." (Peter H Selby, "Interpreting Graphs and Tables", 1976)
"The types of graphics used in operating a business fall into three main categories: diagrams, maps, and charts. Diagrams, such as organization diagrams, flow diagrams, and networks, are usually intended to graphically portray how an activity should be, or is being, accomplished, and who is responsible for that accomplishment. Maps such as route maps, location maps, and density maps, illustrate where an activity is, or should be, taking place, and what exists there. [...] Charts such as line charts, column charts, and surface charts, are normally constructed to show the businessman how much and when. Charts have the ability to graphically display the past, present, and anticipated future of an activity. They can be plotted so as to indicate the current direction that is being followed in relationship to what should be followed. They can indicate problems and potential problems, hopefully in time for constructive corrective action to be taken." (Robert D Carlsen & Donald L Vest, "Encyclopedia of Business Charts", 1977)
"A good graphic must give the impression that its various parts all belong together. They must be arranged in such a way that the illustration looks like a single entity. A good graphic chart should be more than just the sum of its individual lines, shapes, and shades. It should be more than the individual bars in a bar chart, more than the pieces of a pie chart, more than the boxes in a flow chart. Unity requires the establishment of coherent relationships among the component parts of the drawing. These relationships can be depicted in a very direct manner through the use of connecting lines that serve to connect shapes." (Robert Lefferts, "Elements of Graphics: How to prepare charts and graphs for effective reports", 1981)
"A graphic is an illustration that, like a painting or drawing, depicts certain images on a flat surface. The graphic depends on the use of lines and shapes or symbols to represent numbers and ideas and show comparisons, trends, and relationships. The success of the graphic depends on the extent to which this representation is transmitted in a clear and interesting manner." (Robert Lefferts, "Elements of Graphics: How to prepare charts and graphs for effective reports", 1981)
"If you want to dramatize comparisons in relation to the whole. use a pie chart. If you want to add coherence to the narrative, the pie chart also helps because it depicts a whole. If your main interest is in stressing the relationship of one factor to another, use bar charts. If you wish to achieve all these effects. you can use either type of chart. and decide on the basis of which one is more aesthetically or pictorially interesting." (Robert Lefferts, "Elements of Graphics: How to prepare charts and graphs for effective reports", 1981)
"Graphical competence demands three quite different skills: the substantive, statistical, and artistic. Yet now most graphical work, particularly at news publications, is under the direction of but a single expertise-the artistic. Allowing artist-illustrators to control the design and content of statistical graphics is almost like allowing typographers to control the content, style, and editing of prose. Substantive and quantitative expertise must also participate in the design of data graphics, at least if statistical integrity and graphical sophistication are to be achieved." (Edward R Tufte, "The Visual Display of Quantitative Information", 1983)
"As a general rule, plotted points and graph lines should be given more 'weight' than the axes. In this way the 'meat' will be easily distinguishable from the 'bones'. Furthermore, an illustration composed of lines of unequal weights is always more attractive than one in which all the lines are of uniform thickness. It may not always be possible to emphasise the data in this way however. In a scattergram, for example, the more plotted points there are, the smaller they may need to be and this will give them a lighter appearance. Similarly, the more curves there are on a graph, the thinner the lines may need to be. In both cases, the axes may look better if they are drawn with a somewhat bolder line so that they are easily distinguishable from the data." (Linda Reynolds & Doig Simmonds, "Presentation of Data in Science" 4th Ed, 1984)
"In the case of graphs, the number of lines which can be included on any one illustration will depend largely on how close the lines are and how often they cross one another. Three or four is likely to be the maximum acceptable number. In some instances, there may be an argument for using several graphs with one line each as opposed to one graph with multiple lines. It has been shown that these two arrangements are equally satisfactory if the user wishes to read off the value of specific points; if, however, he wishes to compare the lines, than the single multi-line graph is superior." (Linda Reynolds & Doig Simmonds, "Presentation of Data in Science" 4th Ed, 1984)
"The practice of framing an illustration with a drawn rectangle is not recommended. This kind of typographic detailing should never be added purely for aesthetic reasons or for decoration. A simple, purely functional drawing will automatically be aesthetically pleasing. Unnecessary lines usually reduce both legibility and attractiveness." (Linda Reynolds & Doig Simmonds, "Presentation of Data in Science" 4th Ed, 1984)
"Graphical illustrations should be simple and pleasing to the eye, but the presentation must remain scientific. In other words, we want to avoid those graphical features that are purely decorative while keeping a critical eye open for opportunities to enhance the scientific inference we expect from the reader. A good graphical design should maximize the proportion of the ink used for communicating scientific information in the overall display." (Phillip I Good & James W Hardin, "Common Errors in Statistics" (and How to Avoid Them)", 2003)
"[…] a graph is nothing but a visual metaphor. To be truthful, it must correspond closely to the phenomena it depicts: longer bars or bigger pie slices must correspond to more, a rising line must correspond to an increasing amount. If a graphical depiction of data does not faithfully follow this principle, it is almost sure to be misleading. But the metaphoric attachment of a graphic goes farther than this. The character of the depiction ism a necessary and sufficient condition for the character of the data. When the data change, so too must their depiction; but when the depiction changes very little, we assume that the data, likewise, are relatively unchanging. If this convention is not followed, we are usually misled." (Howard Wainer, "Graphic Discovery: A trout in the milk and other visuals" 2nd, 2008)
"Parallel coordinate plots are often overrated concerning their ability to depict multivariate features. Scatterplots are clearly superior in investigating the relationship between two continuous variables and multivariate outliers do not necessarily stick out in a parallel coordinate plot. Nonetheless, parallel coordinate plots can help to find and understand features such as groups/clusters, outliers and multivariate structures in their multivariate context. The key feature is the ability to select and highlight individual cases or groups in the data, and compare them to other groups or the rest of the data." (Martin Theus & Simon Urbanek, "Interactive Graphics for Data Analysis: Principles and Examples", 2009)
"Presentation graphics face the challenge to depict a key message in - usually a single - graphic which needs to fit very many observers at a time, without the chance to give further explanations or context. Exploration graphics, in contrast, are mostly created and used only by a single researcher, who can use as many graphics as necessary to explore particular questions. In most cases none of these graphics alone gives a comprehensive answer to those questions, but must be seen as a whole in the context of the analysis." (Martin Theus & Simon Urbanek, "Interactive Graphics for Data Analysis: Principles and Examples", 2009)
"The amount of information rendered in a single financial graph is easily equivalent to thousands of words of text or a page-sized table of raw values. A graph illustrates so many characteristics of data in a much smaller space than any other means. Charts also allow us to tell a story in a quick and easy way that words cannot." (Brian Suda, "A Practical Guide to Designing with Data", 2010)
"Thinking of graphics as art leads many to put bells and whistles over substance and to confound infographics with mere illustrations." (Alberto Cairo, "The Functional Art", 2011)
"It is important to remember that a visual representation of a scientific concept (or data) is a re-presentation, and not the thing itself - some interpretation or translation is always involved. There are many parallels between creating a graphic and writing an article. First, you must carefully plan what to 'say', and in what order you will 'say it'. Then you must make judgments to determine a hierarchy of information - what must be included and what could be left out? The process of making a visual representation requires you to clarify your thinking and improve your ability to communicate with others. Furthermore, the process of making an effective graphic often leads to new insights into your work; when you make decisions about how to depict your data and underlying concepts, you must often clarify your basic assumptions." (Felice C Frankel & Angela H DePace, "Visual Strategies", 2012)
"Processes take place over time and result in change. However, we’re often constrained to depict processes in static graphics, perhaps even a single image. Luckily, a good static graphic can be just as successful, perhaps even more so, than an animation. Giving the reader the ability to see each 'frame' of time can of f er a valuable perspective." (Felice C Frankel & Angela H DePace, "Visual Strategies", 2012)
"When you decide how to depict your data, you decide on the abstraction. Will you present a graph? A cartoon? An accurate molecular model? And which features will you include in these representations? Your preferred abstraction should include all necessary information, exclude unnecessary information, and make use of your reader’s preexisting knowledge without being confined by it." (Felice C Frankel & Angela H DePace, "Visual Strategies", 2012)
"Good visualization is a winding process that requires statistics and design knowledge. Without the former, the visualization becomes an exercise only in illustration and aesthetics, and without the latter, one of only analyses. On their own, these are fine skills, but they make for incomplete data graphics. Having skills in both provides you with the luxury - which is growing into a necessity - to jump back and forth between data exploration and storytelling." (Nathan Yau, "Data Points: Visualization That Means Something", 2013)
"Line graphs that show more than one line can be useful for making comparisons, but sometimes it is important to discuss each individual line. By using sparklines evaluators can call attention to and discuss individual cases. Sparklines can be embedded within a sentence to illustrate a trend and help stakeholders better understand the data. Evaluators can use this simple visualization when creating reports." (Christopher Lysy, "Developments in Quantitative Data Display and Their Implications for Evaluation", 2013)
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