One of the topics we look at this week is how best to present results. We read that text is not the best method; instead, visual methods—like charts and maps—are most effective. We’ll still interpret our results in text form, but that will be in addition to using an appropriate method of data display. However, a challenge here is that different types of results require different types of data display. For example, if I want to show changes in property crime over time, a line chart works best. But if I want to show the proportion of crimes that are violent versus nonviolent, on the other hand, then a pie chart is most effective. And so on.
The purpose of this week’s discussion is to get you to think critically about the different methods of data display and how to choose which one works best for different types of results and points you are trying to make. Note that you may need to do some Googling to make an informed and unique contribution to this discussion.
Do these three things in your original post:
- Identify some point you might need to make, result you might need to present, or question you might need to answer as a crime analyst
- Identify the most effective method of data display
- Justify why the identified method is the most effective
It is certainly fine to identify the same method of data display [e.g., bar chart], but not for the same or a very similar point/result/question.)
Write 150-300 words, using key terms and ideas from the assigned readings. Again, you may need to draw from additional readings (e.g., Google Scholar).
