Data Visualization as Inquiry

worksheet

   Choose one set of visualizations from below, either Media, Economy or Chicago.   

Media

1. Usage among U.S. adults: https://infogr.am/_/ESAra971MuDpLHPtHeAd
2. Trump: https://infogr.am/trump_trending_downward_on_broadcast_media

Economy

1. Recovery Act: http://flowingdata.com/2010/02/17/road-to-recovery-is-the-recovery-act-working/
2. Income 2014-15: http://flowingdata.com/2016/09/21/increased-income-across-all-groups/

Chicago

1. Race: http://www.radicalcartography.net/index.html?chicagodots
2. “Transit-oriented development” : http://chicago.curbed.com/2015/9/24/9917860/new-tod-radius
   • The map: https://mrutzen1.carto.com/viz/acf12362-4695-11e5-b932-0e0c41326911/embed_map

   First, choose one of the visualizations from the set to focus on and answer the following questions.

1. Study it a bit. What is the purpose of the visualization? What are some of the stories we might glean from it? Speculate.
2. What does it not show? What data is not represented in the graphic?
3. Can the outliers tell you anything? What do you want to know about outliers?
4. What are some research questions you could ask based on this visualization? Think about both what it shows and what it obscures. Speculate wildly. Try to list 3-5.
5. Now, add in the second visualization from your set. Make a new list of research questions based on both of these data together. How do the questions change?