Chapter 8 Using figures to understand and present data

Visualising data in the form of figures is the most essential element of all data analysis. Figures are used throughout the workflow of an analysis. We could break the process down into three main stages, although the boundaries between each are not hard and fast.

1. The first figures in any analysis are usually exploratory in nature. These sort of figures will not make their way into the final write up of the analysis. However they are essential for making sense of the data. It is very difficult to understand data simply as a set of numbers. It is much easier to understand data when the numbers are turned into some sort of visual representation. Although you should keep a copy of these figures and make some notes on them they are only really for your own reference.

2. The second class of figures are important when choosing how to apply statistics to the data. These figures are diagnostic in nature. They allow the analyst to evaluate whether the assumptions of the model (or test) are met. Some of these figures should be included in appendices and supplementary materials as they can be used to justify the choice of statistics. Some may be used in a publication if it is essential to show how the analytical method was chosen.

3. The final class of figures are those that will always make it into the main body of the final report. The important elements to think about when designing and selecting figures for the results section are clarity and relevance. The figures need to clearly display relevant elements of the data that help the reader to draw conclusions. The complexity of the conclusions depend on the nature of the study. Inferential statistics are not always possible nor necessary in order to tell the story that is contained in the data. Often the simplest figures prove to be the most effective.

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