Data presentation

Graphs, tables and diagrams are used by statisticians to help extract information from data, but they are equally important as a way of reporting the resulting information to others.

Reports use tables, graphs and text to present information and several principles for effective presentation of data were described in earlier sections. Textual annotation should be considered to point out important features but should interpret but not simply repeat information.

Excellence in statistical graphics consists of complex ideas communicated with clarity, precision and efficiency.

Innovative graphics

Although basic graphical displays are often effective, there is also scope to devise novel simple ways to effectively display specific types of data. These may link together several simple graphs in ways that encourage the eye to identify patterns and relationships, or they may be completely original.

Always spend time critically examining any reports that you write for their clarity, precision and efficiency.