@NatRecordsScot #DataFest17

Esther Roughsedge,

Demographic Statistics, NRS

Data visualisation

@NatRecordsScot #DataFest17 @NatRecordsScot

What will I cover?

What we have done + how + tips

Focusing on:

Twitter use Infographics Interactive

visualisations

@NatRecordsScot #DataFest17 @NatRecordsScot

Why do this?

We have lots of information and data

• We should maximise their impact by:

reaching a

wider audience

promoting

our messages

• Self-contained

visual stories

• Easy and quick to

understand

• We produce one for

each of our main

publications

Infographics

@NatRecordsScot #DataFest17

• Free software

• Vector graphics

software

• Used for creating and

modifying images

• Lots of tutorials online

• Lots of other software

is available

Inkscape

@NatRecordsScot #DataFest17 @NatRecordsScot

Alternative types of software

For infographics etc

• Some contain standard, easy-to-use

templates for infographics, e.g. Piktochart

(We create our own templates)

• Statistical data visualisation software e.g.

Tableau

(We create charts in Excel or R)

@NatRecordsScot #DataFest17 @NatRecordsScot

Images

Can create or modify images

• Lots of sources are available, e.g:

– Flaticon.com

– Freepik.com

• We import images/charts into Inkscape to

modify, e.g:

@NatRecordsScot #DataFest17

Example

Tip: Outline the

story first

@NatRecordsScot #DataFest17 @NatRecordsScot

Interactive data visualisations

Allow users to explore / manipulate content

themselves

https://scotland.shinyapps.io/babynames/

Example: Baby names

https://scotland.shinyapps.io/household-projection-variants/

Example: household projections

@NatRecordsScot #DataFest17 @NatRecordsScot

R/Shiny

R-project.org

• R is a free software environment for

statistical computing and graphics.

• R package that enables you to write

interactive web applications entirely in R.

• Lots of other options are available.

@NatRecordsScot #DataFest17 @NatRecordsScot

Shiny app hosting (shinyapps.io)

For hosting interactive web applications produced

using R

@NatRecordsScot #DataFest17 @NatRecordsScot

Twitter

Helps reach a wider audience

• In February, @NatRecordsScot had 93,000

page impressions

• Newspaper circulations are falling

– Scotsman print circulation = 23,000

– Herald = 34,000

– Daily Record = 191,000

@NatRecordsScot #DataFest17

Examples of NRS tweets

Factual Announcement

Topical

@NatRecordsScot #DataFest17 @NatRecordsScot

Twitter tips

To maximise impact

• Tweets act as a ‘hook’

• Keep it simple

• Each tweet should stand alone

• Include a link – Counts as 23 characters

• Hashtags enable users to search Twitter by topic – e.g. #DataFest17

• Look at similar Twitter accounts for ideas

• More advice from GSS Social Media Guidance – bit.ly/2fo3idm

@NatRecordsScot #DataFest17 @NatRecordsScot

Including images increases engagement

Images can get truncated on mobile devices

Twitter image

2 x 1

Your image

2 x 4

NRS Twitter

template

@NatRecordsScot #DataFest17

If possible

• Include an image

• Ask a question

• Make it personal

@NatRecordsScot #DataFest17 @NatRecordsScot

Contact details

See our work: www.nrscotland.gov.uk

statisticscustomerservices@nrscotland.gov.uk

More advice: bit.ly/1y00mp9

(Government Statistical Service)