Assignment 1- Analysing the Visual Presentation of an Organisation's Annual Report

Foundation Skills in Data Analysis

Length: 2,000 Words.

Scenario

In this assignment you will undertake two distinct tasks divided as Part A and Part B.

First, you will develop a list of generic evaluation criteria that critique valid practices when developing, or constructing, Charts, Tables and Graphs (i.e. visualisations), i.e. Part A.

Second, you will use the criteria you have just developed to evaluate the suitability of the Charts, Tables and Graphs (i.e. visualisations) utilised in a publically available report of your choice (subject to the conditions listed later in this document) i.e. Part B.

Requirements

• Part A: Develop Evaluation Criteria

Your evaluation criteria need to be objective, in that they stipulate the rules you would use in establishing whether a Chart, Table or Graph utilised in your selected Report, is appropriate for the data being presented. You need to make sure that each of your criterion is written in such a manner that a reasonable person can readily understand, or appreciate, the message being conveyed. You are expected to address approximately 20 criteria.

You should also group your criteria by visualisation type. For example, you might choose "Common", "Chart", "Table" and "Graph", or some other suitable grouping. You are not restricted to these specific headings. It's also important that you number each separate criterion as you will need to refer to its specific number when undertaking Task 2.

An example of an appropriate criterion:

Line Charts should be used when analysing trends over time. To be effective, the time series should be placed on the x-axis with the measure on the y-axis.

An example of an unacceptable criterion:
Line Charts should have nice colours.

This example fails on two counts: it has an inadequate description (or explanation); and, it is subjective (i.e. the authors opinion), whereas it should be objective.

• Part B: Report Evaluation

Select 12 to 15 diverse Charts, Tables or Graphs from your chosen Report (but not including any "Infographics") and evaluate these visualisations using your criterion developed in Part A. It would not be unusual for an individual visualisation from your report to refer to multiple criteria. Further, any given visualisation you select may conform to some of your criterion but be in contravention of others, and this would need to be reported.

It is expected that each of your criterion would be used at least once when evaluating your chosen Charts, Tables or Graphs.

Note: When evaluating the report, include an image of the Charts, Tables and Graphs you have selected and make sure to associate them back to a specific criterion by using the criterion number you used in Part A.