Visualization Analysis: How can we read data visualizations?

This paper presents a question-based framework for analyzing the quality of a visualization

in a general manner. Visualizations are tools that can convey complex ideas and encapsulate

large amounts of data in a relatively small format. These representations can present coherent

narratives and lead readers to conclusions supported by data. At the same time, the intent of the

designer of a visualization will affect the form that the visualization takes, and in doing so, may

lead readers to specific conclusions that the designer desires, regardless of what the data actually

says. Propaganda, for example, has been used to great effect in convincing the general public

of various countries of different narratives. For this reason, I consider the designers’ intent in

addition to the visual elements of a graphic, to form a more holistic picture of what the graphic is

saying.