Learning to See Data: How to Interpret the Visual Language of Charts (The Data Literacy Series)

For most of us, it's rare to go a full day without coming across data in the form of a chart, map or dashboard. Graphical displays of data are all around us, from performance indicators at work to election trackers on the news to traffic maps on the road. But few of us have received training or instruction in how to actually read and interpret them. How many times have we been misled simply because we aren't aware of the pitfalls to avoid when interpreting data visualizations.Learning to See Data will teach you the different ways that data can be encoded in graphical form, and it will give you a deeper understanding of the way our human visual system interprets these encodings. You will also learn about the most common chart types, and the situations in which they are most appropriate. From basic bar charts to overused pie charts to helpful maps and many more, a wide array of chart types are covered in detail, and conventions, pitfalls, strengths and weaknesses of each of them are revealed. This book will help you develop fluency in the interpretation of charts, an ability that we all need to hone and perfect if we are to make meaningful contributions in the professional, public and personal arenas of life. The principles covered in it also serve as a critical background for anyone looking to create charts that others will be able to understand.