ATPS WINTER 2010 GERI/GOULD/MCBRIDE

Graphics for Your Research Report

Who will be your audience?

“Applied” users (e.g., legislators, nonprofit execs or volunteers, members of policy networks)

Your boss and related coworkers Readers of a professional journal Reviewers of a grant proposal

Know your Audience

What do they want to know? At what level do they operate

analytically? In what form do they prefer to

receive results?

Words and images

Use tables and charts to present numbers Tables for precise numeric values Charts to show trends and patterns, which

values exceed others and by how much Use prose to :

Introduce topics Describe patterns Explain how the data answer (or don’t

answer) the research question

Pie charts

Relative proportions of some classification of data or variable

Nominal/categorical data Works best with 5 variables or fewer

and with substantial differences

Topics of art presented at the 74th Whitney Biennial

Bell-bottom pants and Earth Shoes required for viewing….

Components of the energy bill for a typical US household (year unknown)

This has more than 5 slices, but its comprehensiveness makes it effective

Bar Charts

Help the reader make comparisons across attributes of variables

Variables on x-axis, frequency on y-axis

Vertical charts work best to portray relative magnitudes

Horizontal charts work better when more than 9 bars are compared, and often leave more space for labeling

Source: nationmaster.com, India 2005

Literacy rates in 1981, 2001

Models, etc. Visual thinking is helpful for both

researchers and their clients Model: a representation of reality that

contains only essential components, shows interrelationships

Translating models into visual form clarifies assumptions, eliminates the extraneous

Show initial model, then model revised after research

Request feedback on the usefulness of the model

Logic model for Youth Empowerment Solutions

http://www.sph.umich.edu/prc/projects/yes/YESlogicmodel.jpg

Tell the story of the intervention visually.

Click icon to add picture

http://www.mfrcgagetown.nb.ca/english/images/program_model.jpg

“Working model” of a music therapy project

(see http://www.voices.no/mainissues/mi40006000218.php)

What about statistics?

If you use statistics, report statistical significance (or lack thereof)

Describe patterns (generalize) Provide examples State exceptions from your pattern

found in the data State the direction and magnitude of

any relationship you find

Describing risk and uncertainty

How should we write about controversial events with probabilities difficult to assess?

“Uncertainty” is used to describe an unmeasurable risky event.

If you can attach a probability to an event with a negative outcome, that is a measurable risk.

Be consistent and systematic The IPCC 4th Assessment report is a

model

What do you recommend?

Does your client want recommendations?

Was your research intended to be prescriptive?

Would they prefer options? Are your data strong enough to

support recommendations? Don’t overreach.

If in doubt, be descriptive….but prepare yourself to provide recommendations if asked to do so in a briefing

Self-care

Be disciplined. Develop the ability to quickly crank out a draft of a project

Know your style…some people are comfortable with rough drafts, fill in the holes later…some aren’t—try to find that out when recruiting help

Avoid procrastination…if you are in the habit of leaving major projects until the last minute, ask yourself….what’s causing this behavior?

Leave time for crafting a presentation separate from your analysis that tells the story more visually

Self-care II

Ask for feedback on your report, and be prepared for whatever you hear

Be gracious if it’s less than stellar Use the results to do better next

time Celebrate!