Data visualization and analysis handbook (Apr 2019 v2)

Examples of visualizations: Mistake: Truncating the scale

Index

  1. Data visualization check list
  2. Chart selection
  3. Examples of visualizations
  4. Examples of makeovers – from bad to good
  5. How to develop a story with visualizations
  6. Resources

Mistake: Truncating the scale

Example 1

This chart shows the average number of Facebook likes on posts by pages of the political left. The point of this chart was to show the disparity between Mr Corbyn's posts and others. The original chart not only downplays the number of Mr Corbyn's likes but also exaggerates those on other posts. In the redesigned version, we show Mr Corbyn's bar in its entirety. All other bars remain visible.

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Source: economist

Chart Index

1. Line Chart 1, 2, 3 16. Dumbbell (Connected) Dot Chart 31. Heat maps
2. Area Chart 17. Histograms 32. Doughnut
3. Stacked Area Chart 18. Boxplot 33. Tree maps
4. Slope Chart 19. Scatterplot 34. Stream Chart
5. Horizontal Bar Chart 20. Bubble Chart 35. Parallel Coordinates (Parallel Sets)
6. Column (Clustered) Bar Chart 21. Icon Array (Unit, Pictograph, Isotype) 36. Scatterplot matrix
7. Bullet Chart 22. Calendars 37. Waterfall
8. Dot (Lollipop) Chart 23. Waffle 38. Multi-set Bar Chart
9. Stacked (Horizontal) Bar Chart 24. Heat Tables 39. Marimekko Chart
10. Stacked Column Chart 25. Circle Chart 40. Nightingale Rose Chart
11. Overlapping Bar Chart 26. Spark Line 41. Candlestick Chart
12. Deviation Chart 27. Density 42. Radial Column Chart
13. Diverging Stacked Bar Chart 28. Small Multiples Line 43. Radar Chart
14. Population Pyramids 29. Social Network 44. Chord Diagram
15. Span Chart 30. Data Table 45. Choropleth Map

Combo Charts

1. Line Chart, Stacked Column Chart 2. Horizontal Bar, Circle Chart
3. Line Chart, Horizontal Bar Chart 4. Horizontal Bar Chart, Dot (Lollipop) Chart
5. Area Graph, Line Chart 6. Horizontal Bar Chart, Waffle, Venn Diagram
7. Mistake: Truncating the scale 8. Heat maps, Horizontal Bar Chart,Stacked Horizontal Bar, Population Pyramids
9. Line Chart, Dashboard, Infograph