Visuals and graphics have been used for communicating complex ideas since 1786 when William Playfair first invented the line graph and bar chart. Graphs and charts are useful for interpretation and making sense of data. For instance, John Snow's scatter plot helped pinpoint the source of a cholera outbreak in London in 1854 and also changed…

The State Higher Education Finance (SHEF) report is produced annually by the State Higher Education Executive Officers (SHEEO) to broaden understanding of the context and consequences of multiple decisions made every year in each of these areas. No single report can provide definitive answers to such broad and fundamental questions of public…

Since the ultimate success of any diagram rests in its clarity, it is important that the designer select a method of presentation which will achieve this aim. He should be aware of the various ways in which statistics can be shown diagrammatically, how information can be incorporated in maps, and how events can be plotted in chart or graph form.…

Experimentation with graphical methods for data presentation is important for improving graphical communication in science. Several graphical methods are discussed including full scale breaks, dot charts, and multibased logging. Full scale breaks are suggested as replacements for partial scale breaks since partial scale breaks can fail to provide…

The aim of good data graphics is to display data accurately and clearly. This definition is used as a point of departure for developing 12 rules of bad data display: (1) show as little data as possible (minimize the data density); (2) hide what data you do show (minimize the data-ink ratio); (3) ignore the visual metaphor altogether; (4) only…

Types of presentations for quantitative data are defined and illustrated, and their attributes are discussed with recommendations of formats for specific purposes. (Author/STS)

In 1967-68 the operating expenditures of the 2,370 college and university libraries covered in the survey totaled approximately $510 million. Of that total, $189 million or 37% was spent on books and other library materials, and $275 million or 54% was spent for salaries and wages. Binding and rebinding accounted for 3% of the total; all other…

Uses statistical graphs and charts of 33rd annual poll results to support conclusions on implications for educational policy. (PKP)

This chartbook is designed as a graphic reference on national statistical information about disabilities. Each page contains a content question, explanatory text, and an explanatory chart or table as well as information on sources used. Key terms are shown in boldface and defined in a glossary. Section 1 provides demographic data on Americans with…

While the use of informational graphics in newspapers is increasing, little is known regarding how well readers can understand them and how readers use them. A study investigated whether readers of newspapers read graphics before or after they read the headline/text, and whether people decide to read a graphic device for appearance-related or…

This study was conducted to analyze and summarize raw data obtained from a 1972 study: "Report on a Cost Study of Specific Technical Processing Activities of the California State University and College Libraries" with the hypothesis that the cost of technical processes increases as the production volume both rises above and falls below…

The use of quantitative graphics in newspapers requires achieving a balance between being accurate and getting the attention of the reader. The statistical representations in newspapers are drawn by graphic designers whose key technique is fusion--the striking combination of two visual images. This technique often results in visual puns,…

This module, one of 25 on vocational education training for careers in environmental health occupations, contains self-instructional materials on preparing data for analysis. Following guidelines for students and instructors and an introduction that explains what the student will learn are three lessons: (1) constructing a table by organizing data…

Five diskettes present EDsearch (Education Statistics on Disk) (formerly Digest-on-Disk), a computerized search and retrieval system designed to provide an easy way to locate and display specific information contained in the wealth of statistical tables produced by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). This version of the program…

The 1974 update of the research study on "Population/Enrollment Trends in Iowa and Implications for Iowa's Area Schools" consists of charts, graphs, and tables displaying the most recent statistical data in the area. Most figures and tables are interpreted briefly and are followed by questions relating to further interpretation by the…