Edward Tufte stated, "Tables usually outperform graphics in reporting on small data sets of 20 numbers or less. The special power of graphics comes in the display of large data sets," (1983).
When is it better to use tables then graphs when displaying data?
Look at the site below to help answer the question better, there are a bunch of graphs and charts, but what displays information better?
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.hsl.unc.edu/phpapers/images/Agraph7.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.hsl.unc.edu/phpapers/apex01/Aappendixa.htm&usg=__D9Ujxll6f7C_dVItnmLsnDpbD2Y=&h=377&w=462&sz=8&hl=en&start=1&itbs=1&tbnid=Ll0eSHlWA_9LvM:&tbnh=104&tbnw=128&prev=/images%3Fq%3Deducational%2Bgraphs%26hl%3Den%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1
Reference:
Tufte, E. (1983). Graphical Integrity. In The Visual Display of Quantitative Information, (pp. 55-77). Chesire, Connecticut: Graphic Press.
Classmates,
ReplyDeleteI think it is important to use graphs when comparing information, or when looking to share information in a presentation. To me, a graph stands out more and allows the viewer to see data in a different format and assess it. They are able to compare the information and use that information for a purpose. Tables can be a useful resource when you want to share information you do not need to assess, such as railroad schedules, as Tufte discusses in Narratives of Time and Space.
Tufte, E. (1990). Narratives of Space and Time. In Envisioning Information. Cheshire, Connecticut: Graphics Press.
Jenny,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post. I think you made some great points. A graph does stand out more. Great examples of how we can use tables.