3.4 Graphical displays should…
- “Excellence in statistical graphics consists of complex ideas communicated with clarity, precision and efficiency” (Tufte 2001, 2:13)
- “Graphics reveal data. Indeed graphics can be more precise and revealing than conventional statistical computations.” (Tufte 2001, 2:13)
- "Graphical displays should:
- show the data
- induce the viewer to think about the substance rather than about methodology, graphic design, the technology of graphic production or something else
- avoid distorting what the data has to say
- present many numbers in a small space
- make large data sets coherent
- encourage the eye to compare different pieces of data
- reveal the data at several levels of detail, from a broad overview to the fine structure
- serve a reasonably clear purpose: description, exploration, tabulation or decoration
- be closely integrated with the statistical and verbal descriptions of a data set." (Tufte 2001, 2:13)
- Remember the The “best” graph ever drawn.
References
Tufte, Edward R. 2001. The Visual Display of Quantitative Information. Vol. 2. Graphics press Cheshire, CT.