Visualizing Statistics and Research For Reports and Presentations

Visualizing Statistics and Research For Reports and Presentations

Data visualizations transform boring statistics and research into compelling graphics that resonate with audiences.

Charts, graphs, maps, and other visuals embed data into a format our brains easily digest. This makes even dense data accessible and impactful.

This guide will explore different types of data visualizations along with best practices for incorporating graphics into reports, whitepapers, blog posts, infographics, slide decks, and other materials to bring statistics to life.

Follow these techniques to make data a key asset for clarity and persuasion in your communications.

The Power of Data Visualization

Before reviewing specific approaches, let’s examine the benefits quality data visualization provides:

Makes Data Easy to Grasp

Well-designed charts and graphs allow viewers to comprehend findings far quicker than scanning numbers or text alone. Visuals synthesize data intuitively.

Uncovers Hidden Patterns and Relationships

Visualizing data reveals trends, correlations, and insights that get lost in spreadsheets. Graphics highlight key takeaways.

Holds Attention and Interest

Colorful data visualizations capture interest better than walls of text. Audiences engage with graphics that pop.

Boosts Memorability

Viewers remember data presented visually much better thanks to the powerful visual encoding of our brains. Graphics stick.

Adds Credibility

Including cited statistics, properly labeled axes, and clean data visualizations signals professionalism and builds authority.

Enables Storytelling

Charts allow “showing” the narrative within data rather than just “telling”. Graphics make stats persuasive.

Facilitates Collaboration and Learning

Shared visuals provide a common language for teams to derive insights from data together. They aid learning.

Fosters Quick Decisions

Seeing analytics visually aids leaders in interpreting data and spotting trends quickly to drive responsive decisions.

Improves Reports and Presentations

Infusing charts and graphs into documents and slides gives them energy while making concepts crystal clear.

The right visualization transforms dry, dense data into an invaluable asset. Now let’s explore some best practices for data visualization design, starting with the critical choice of picking chart types.

Matching Visualizations to Your Data

Many options exist for visualizing data—from simple to elaborate. Selecting the right chart type depends primarily on two factors:

Data Types

Is your data categorical, time-series, hierarchical, geographical, correlational? Choose a chart suited to best present your data types.

Message to Convey

What story do you want to tell? Are you comparing parts to a whole? Showing trends? Highlighting rankings? Choose a chart that communicates your message clearly.

With an understanding of these factors, review this guide of common chart types to select the optimal visual for your dataset and narrative:

Bar Graphs

Best for…

• Comparing quantities
• Displaying categorical data

Use when…

• You want to compare metric values across discrete groups or categories
• There are 10 or fewer categories
• The axis labels are short

Line Graphs

Best for…

• Showing trends and trajectories over time

Use when…

• You have a continuous data set
• You want to show trends and rates of change
• Time is a primary component

Pie Charts

Best for…

• Showing part-to-whole relationships

Use when…

• You want to visualize proportions and percentages
• You have just a few categorical data points
• Your message centers on individual values’ share of a whole

Scatter Plots

Best for…

• Revealing correlations and relationships

Use when…

• You want to assess if two numeric variables correlate
• You have paired data points with x/y coordinates
• The relationship between data points matters most

Heat Maps

Best for…

• Displaying concentations and densities through color

Use when…

• You want to color code values for quick visual cues
• You have geographical or matrix data to map intensities
• Seeing patterns in densities is valuable

Gantt Charts

Best for…

• Viewing schedules and timelines

Use when…

• You want to display task durations, timelines, and milestones
• Showing timing relationships is critical
• Planning and tracking projects

These six essential chart types cover most basic business data visualization needs. Always start simple before considering more advanced options.

Design Principles for Compelling Data Visuals

Beyond choosing the right base chart style, follow these best practices when designing visuals:

Lead With the Key Takeaway

Design the visual to immediately direct eyes to the most important insight or pattern. Make it unavoidable.

Keep It Simple

Avoid excessive detail, ornamentation, 3D effects, and complex choices that distract from the core message. Clarity beats elaborateness.

Use Captivating Titles

Summarize the key story or highlight from the data in a short, descriptive title that draws interest while setting context.

Pick Meaningful Colors

Use color strategically to group related data points, highlight patterns, and add meaning that aligns to your message and brand.

Ensure Sufficient Contrast

Colors, fonts, and elements should have distinct visual contrast to be easily scannable. Light text on dark often works best for clarity.

Label Appropriately

Label charts fully with descriptive axes titles and legible data point labels. All text should be horizontal.

Spotlight Your Point

Bold or highlight the most critical data points, categories, or trends you want viewers to notice. Guide their eyes.

Show Only Relevant Details

Leave out distracting or non-essential design elements. Every pixel should strengthen communication of key info.

Size Appropriately

Make charts large enough to read key text at a glance. Small graphics lose impact. Consider your display medium.

Maintain Consistent Design

Use the same fonts, colors, styles, capitalization, abbreviations, numbering formats, etc. across all visuals for coherence.

Elevate your data visualizations from mediocre to marvelous by following these core design principles. Thoughtful design choices make your data shine.

Data Visualization Tools and Process

With an understanding of chart types and design basics, let’s look at helpful data visualization tools and a process for putting this into practice:

Data Visualization Tools

• Excel – Microsoft’s ubiquitous spreadsheet software with native graphing capabilities works for basic charts.
• Datawrapper – Quickly create online charts and maps with this intuitive, free visualization tool.
• Tableau – Powerful yet accessible data visualization and analytics software with advanced functionality.
• Looker – Browser-based data analytics platform great for data modeling plus dashboards and reports.
• Sisense – Full-stack business intelligence and analytics solution with visual data discovery features.
• D3.js – JavaScript library for building custom interactive visualizations for web applications.
• RAW Graphs – Open source data viz tool lets you quickly generate graphics online in SVG and PNG formats.
• Canva – Leading graphic design platform includes a data visualization builder with stylishcharts.

Process for Creating Visuals

1. Gather relevant data and metrics from research, experiments, surveys, databases, etc.
2. Clean and prepare data in spreadsheet software, ensuring consistency.
3. Analyze and interpret data to identify key insights and stories.
4. Choose visualization type that best presents your data and message.
5. Craft initial graphic using selected data viz software, applying design principles.
6. Refine the visual iteratively to enhance clarity, highlighting key elements.
7. Finalize image exports for inserting in reports, presentations, blogs, etc.
8. Document work noting data sources, tools, steps taken for recreating or updating in future.

With the right tools and process, you can efficiently produce quality data visualizations that amplify the value of your statistics and research.

Infographic Design Tips

Infographics combine data visualizations, text, illustrations, and graphic elements to convey key information visually. Follow these tips to create high-impact infographics:

Maintain Visual Hierarchy

Use sizing, color, and placement to make the most important visuals prominent, with supplementary graphics smaller.

Limit Text

Keep written content concise in short paragraphs, bullet points, labels, and captions to let visuals take the lead.

Direct Flow with Lines

Use lines, arrows, and implied lines to guide the viewer’s gaze through the infographic sequentially.

Establish Consistent Design

Maintain consistent fonts, graphic styles, color schemes, and layouts across all visuals for a professional look.

Incorporate Relevant Imagery

Use supportive photos, illustrations, and icons to add visual interest and clarify concepts. Images boost engagement.

Add Personality With Illustration

Unique illustrations and hand-drawn elements make infographics more approachable, fun, and shareable.

Make it Scannable

Use bold text, ample whitespace, clear headers, and bulleted lists so readers can skim key information easily.

Cite Sources

Always cite data sources on infographics for credibility. Links allow tracing info back to original research.

Grab Attention with Headlines

Summarize the core message of your infographic in a catchy, descriptive headline to capture interest upfront.

Maintain Mobile Optimization

Review infographics on phones to ensure readability and usability. Keep key elements prominently visible.

Infographics turn boring data into viral eye candy. Now let’s explore specific applications for maximizing data visualizations across mediums.

Data Visualizations for Reports and Whitepapers

Reports and whitepapers require data visualizations to lift key statistics off the page. Here are proven techniques:

Open With a Striking Visual

Hook readers by opening reports with an eye-catching full bleed chart or graph showcasing your top insight upfront.

Break up Dense Sections

Insert relevant charts and graphs between paragraphs to provide visual relief from heavy text while highlighting key data.

Reinforce Structure with Graphics

Include simple yet on-brand icons, dividers, and banners between report sections to enhance flow and digestibility.

Make Data Actionable

Close detailed charts with a brief annotation highlighting their significance to the overall report narrative or recommendations.

Use Consistent Number Formatting

Format related numbers, percentages, dates, and components identically across all report visuals to maintain professionalism.

Link Charts to Underlying Data

Enable traceability by noting research sources beneath charts. Hyperlink directly to underlying data or calculations where helpful.

Print-Optimize Visual Elements

Avoid thin lines, faint colors, and tiny text when designing charts intended for print. Darker, bolder elements reproduce best.

Maintain Mobile Readability

Ensure charts and graphs remain legible and non-distorted when viewed on phones. Simplify overly-complex visuals.

Strategic data visualization instantly improves the quality and impact of dry reports.

Presentation Slide Design with Data Graphics

Slide decks similarly benefit from judicious use of data visualizations:

Introduce Concepts With Charts

Hook your audience by introducing key concepts and themes visually through bold charts rather than walls of bullet points.

Limit Text by Displaying Data

Rather than describing statistics, display the numbers directly in graphs and illustrations. Let visual data tell the story.

Reinforce Talking Points Visually

Synchronize relevant charts popping up on slides with your verbal discussion of the data for multi-sensory impact.

Add Motion to Bring Data Alive

Make charts exciting by adding subtle animations for a dynamic flow, like building a bar graph incrementally.

Use Color Thoughtfully

Leverage color consistently across your full presentation to encode extra meaning and categorization within data.

Ensure Visuals Complement Branding

Infuse charts with brand appropriate fonts, colors, icons, etc. borrowed from marketing materials to maintain a consistent look.

Make Charts Large and Legible

Maximize the slide real estate occupied by key charts. Avoid tiny, illegible data visuals. Simplify overly crowded graphs.

Cite Sources

List sources and embed hyperlinks where feasible for charts so audiences can verify data firsthand.

When leveraged skillfully, data visualizations transform dry slide presentations into memorable data stories.

Blog Post Visualization Ideas

Blogs benefit from judicious use of data visuals to highlight key statistics:

Open with an Attention-Grabbing Chart

Draw readers in by leading blog posts with a provocative, full-width chart or infographic showcasing your central finding.

Break Up Long Paragraphs

Insert well-placed charts and graphs to provide visual relief within long blocks of text.

Reinforce Key Points

Charts that visualize statistics cited in your narrative help drive home your conclusions. Align visuals to text.

Source Data Images Legally

Always provide attribution when using data visualizations from external sources. Cite creative commons or get permission.

Link Charts to Full Data

Hyperlink chart sources so interested readers can explore the complete datasets and calculations.

Maintain Consistent Branding

Use branded fonts, colors, and iconography within data visuals to maintain a consistent visual style on your blog.

Optimize Visuals for Web

Save charts in web-friendly formats like SVG or PNG at appropriate resolutions to prevent pixelation or slow loading images.

Describe Charts for Accessibility

Provide concise text descriptions of key chart features and conclusions for those using screen readers.

Well-designed charts and graphs boost blog engagement and shareability.

Presenting Survey Results Visually

Surveys produce many compelling data stories just waiting to be visualized:

Show Response Distributions

Bar and column charts best showcase survey question response distributions at a glance. Avoid pie charts with too many slices.

Compare Segments Side-by-Side

Grouped bar charts allow easy comparison of responses across demographic segments. Color code them by segment.

Plot Rankings in Order

For survey questions that collect rankings, a bar chart ordered sequentially by rank best communicates how items stack up.

Map Geographical Responses

For location-based questions, use a chloropleth map to display concentrations and densities based on color shading.

Highlight Response Relationships

Use correlation matrices or scatter plots to reveal how certain responses correlate or cluster based on underlying attitudinal dimensions.

Show Response Changes

Where applicable, line graphs illustrate how survey responses have trended over time through successive iterations.

Structure Reports Visually

Add charts breaking out response rates, completion times, and sample composition before diving into results for context.

Smart visual presentation of results maximizes survey impact.

Telling Stories with Data Narratives

Beyond basic reporting, data can convey compelling stories to stick with audiences. Strategies include:

Plot Time Series Trends

Line graphs showcase ups and downs dramatically. Add annotations to highlight key events.

Use Annotations to Call Out Milestones

Callouts flag spikes, dips, and other time series plot events to time stamp occurrences.

Incorporate Qualitative Context Alongside Data

Blend charts with photos, quotes, and text to provide rich backstories explaining the human impact.

Zoom in on Specific Timeframes

Examine subsets of data through blown-up bar charts and other visuals that spotlight specific periods.

Blend Quantitative Data with Qualitative Imagery

Combine abstract data visualizations with relatable photos or illustrations of people benefiting from your work.

Personalize Dry Concepts

Make big numbers feel accessible by converting totals into easier-to-grasp comparisons, like meals provided or classrooms funded.

Structure Reveals as Cliffhangers

Build up suspense by teasing charts one piece at a time as you walk through calculations, letting audiences derive results themselves.

Use Complementary Chart Types

Bolster linear trends with bar charts documenting cumulative totals to demonstrate overall impact over time.

Data presented creatively becomes an artform. Humanize your data stories.

Tools to Make Data Visualization Easy

Don’t let lack of design expertise limit your data communication. Many excellent tools exist to help non-experts create professional graphics quickly. Here are top options:

Datawrapper

Generate clean, web-optimized charts in minutes through Datawrapper’s simple web interface or WordPress plugin integration. Customize colors, text, styles, and templates.

Canva

Canva provides stylish graph and infographic templates you can populate with data and customize in their versatile graphic design platform.

Pictochart

Pictochart offers a wide selection of stylish infographic templates and easy drag-and-drop editing built for non-designers.

Piktochart

Quickly turn spreadsheet data into infographics using Piktochart’s huge template library and intuitive editor. Has collaboration features.

Venngage

Create infographics, charts, diagrams, and maps on Venngage through its large collection of professionally designed graphic templates.

Visme

Visme provides data visualization templates alongside infographic creation and interactive presentation building in a single visual platform.

RawGraphs

Generate clean data visualization web graphics for free with RawGraphs open source data viz tool. Just upload data to create charts.

Google Charts

Easily embed a wide variety of interactive charts and graphs generated using Google Sheets data right into websites.

ChartBlocks

Design responsive data visualizations for websites through ChartBlocks’ intuitive block-based web editor. Modify colors, text, and styles.

With these user-friendly tools, anyone can produce sleek data graphics that bring statistics to life. The data story is yours to tell. Arm yourself with visuals that inspire action.

FAQ for Visualizing Statistics and Research For Reports and Presentations

1. Why are data visualizations important?
Data visualizations transform complex statistics and research into easily understandable graphics. They make data accessible, memorable, and impactful, enabling viewers to grasp key insights quickly.

2. What are the benefits of using data visualizations?

• Easy Grasping: Visuals synthesize data intuitively, making it easier for viewers to comprehend findings.
• Uncovering Patterns: Visualizing data reveals trends, correlations, and insights that may be overlooked in spreadsheets.
• Engagement: Colorful and captivating visuals capture interest and engage audiences better than text alone.
• Memorability: Viewers remember data presented visually better than text, thanks to the powerful visual encoding of our brains.
• Credibility: Well-designed data visualizations enhance professionalism, build authority, and add credibility to your content.
• Storytelling: Data visuals allow you to “show” the narrative within data, making statistics persuasive and memorable.

3. How do I choose the right visualization type for my data?
Choosing the right visualization depends on your data types and the message you want to convey. Consider whether your data is categorical, time-series, hierarchical, geographical, or correlational, and choose a chart type that best presents your data and message clearly.

4. What are some best practices for designing data visuals?

• Lead with Key Insights: Design visuals to immediately direct attention to the most important insights.
• Keep it Simple: Avoid excessive detail and ornamentation that distract from the core message.
• Use Captivating Titles: Summarize key insights in descriptive titles that draw interest.
• Pick Meaningful Colors: Use color strategically to group related data points and highlight patterns.
• Ensure Sufficient Contrast: Colors, fonts, and elements should have distinct visual contrast for easy readability.
• Label Appropriately: Fully label charts with descriptive axes titles and legible data point labels.
• Show Only Relevant Details: Leave out distracting or non-essential design elements.
• Size Appropriately: Make charts large enough to read key text at a glance.
• Maintain Consistent Design: Use consistent fonts, colors, styles, and formatting across all visuals for coherence.

5. What are some tools for creating data visualizations?
There are several user-friendly tools available for creating data visualizations, including:

• Datawrapper: For generating clean, web-optimized charts with customizable options.
• Canva: Offers stylish graph and infographic templates that are easy to customize.
• Pictochart and Piktochart: Provide a wide selection of infographic templates with intuitive editing features.
• Venngage and Visme: Allow you to create infographics, charts, diagrams, and maps with professionally designed templates.
• RawGraphs: Generates clean data visualization web graphics for free using an open-source tool.

6. How can I use data visualizations effectively in reports, presentations, and blog posts?

• Reports: Use visuals to break up dense sections, reinforce key points, and provide context. Ensure consistency in design and formatting.
• Presentations: Introduce concepts with charts, limit text by displaying data, and synchronize visuals with verbal discussion. Maintain a consistent visual style.
• Blog Posts: Open with attention-grabbing visuals, break up long paragraphs with charts, and reinforce key points with data visuals. Maintain consistency with branding.

7. How can I tell compelling stories with data narratives?

• Plot Time Series Trends: Use line graphs with annotations to showcase trends over time.
• Incorporate Qualitative Context: Blend visuals with photos, quotes, and text to provide rich backstories.
• Blend Quantitative Data with Qualitative Imagery: Combine data visualizations with relatable imagery to humanize statistics.
• Personalize Dry Concepts: Convert big numbers into easier-to-grasp comparisons to make statistics more accessible.
• Structure Reveals as Cliffhangers: Tease charts one piece at a time to build suspense and engagement.

These FAQs provide a comprehensive overview of visualizing statistics and research effectively for reports, presentations, and other communication materials.