Presenting Data Effectively: Tap Into the Power of "Pictures" of Data
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Data visualization (dataviz) are based on two key facts:
• Research shows that people retain data presented graphically at a higher rate. Only 10 percent of people in one study retained information presented in a bullet point format several days later while 65 percent who viewed as graphics retained the information
• Vision can trick other senses. For example, most people will report that a Coca Cola colored with red dye is a Cherry Coke even though the taste and smell are not altered.Good data presentation design can make a difference professionally for an individual and strategically for an organization, for three reasons, said Evergreen:
1. Dataviz makes you look good – which can get you promoted. Simple strategies like taking four bullet points and splitting them into four separate slides to give the audience time to absorb the information strengthens every presentation and clarifies data, which leads to more meaningful discussions and better decisions.
2. Dataviz makes you rethink your metrics.Taking data out of a hard-to-read table and graphing it presents an opportunity to identify metrics that don’t fit the problem you are evaluating or the trend you are watching. Removing extraneous information or placing it in a more appropriate context makes the data easier to interpret.
3. Dataviz helps tell a clearer story. Evergreen pointed to the classic “double-Y-axis” graph as an example of confusing an audience.
“People look at the point at which two lines intersect and think that is the important message of the data when it usually is not,” she said. Using scatter plots versus line graphs, or adding graphic trend lines to a table to highlight the important points of the data story are more effective. Creating effective graphs and visual representations of data does not require intense training and most can be created with Microsoft® Excel, said Evergreen.
Another free resource is her blog, which includes a several “how to” articles and can be found at StephanieEvergreen.com/blog.
