Recap

• If you can only remember one thing, remember Figure.NZ
• If you can only remember two things, remember to add /data.csv to Figure.NZ urls

Data processing

• Make a copy of your original data
• Delete unnecessary columns (but don’t forget what the units were)

Do you need a pivot table?

Sometimes data jobs like this:

When what you need is:

Then it is time for a pivot table.

• Select all the data your need to pivot
• Click on ‘Data’ -> ‘Pivot table’
• Select your columns - probably the variable name
• Select your rows - probably time
• Select your values - probably value
• Deselect the ‘Create totals’ options
• Copy the result into datawrapper

What is a graph?

Using the tools at hand; size, colour, shape, and position to represent (encode) the values in the data.

Coloured pencil time

Chart choice

• Different charts will highlight different aspects of your data more effectively.
• Choose the chart that shows the aspect of the data that you are interested in
• Line and Bar charts are often a safe choice
• Take care with maps and pie charts

FT Visual Vocabulary

Bad or deceiving charts

• Charts and graphs can be used to deceive
  • Don’t do this.

The best way to get a sense for bad charts is to peruse vis.wtf or /r/dataisugly. There is also a good writeup here

The most common bad things are:

• Incorrect, missing, or misleading labels
• Inconsistenct scales
• Truncating scales
• Comparing things that shouldn’t be
• Too many things

A few rules

• Barcharts always start at 0
• Line charts don’t need to start at 0, but always ask yourself if the range you select is going to make an insignificant change look important
• Only use pie charts for parts of a whole and only when there are less than 5 categories
• Avoid maps for showing quantities
• LABELS

Exercise

Pick a couple of charts from Figure.NZ and remake it.

• Have you made them better or worse?
• If you have improved them is the data being shown in a different way?

Workbench

• Workbench Data is built for journalists
• Replaces spreadsheets in your workflow
• Pivot is called reshape

This is long data

This is wide data

Maps

Data wrapper supports 3 types of map

• Choropleth
• Symbol
• Locator

New Zealand is a mess (this doesn’t cover DHBs, Police Districts, Civil Defense, or Fire and Emergency areas)

Ask for help!

Accessment

• Select some data from Figure.NZ
• Create a chart, map, or table from the data in Datawrapper
• Email the chart link to chris.knox@nzherald.co.nz
• Include a sentence about why you choose this data - why would it be newsworthy
• Include a sentence about why you choose that chart or map type.