Week 4: Data visualization

Week 4: Data visualization#

STATS 60 Spring 2025

  • 10 bonus points for attendance

  • 10 bonus points for completing assignment

Students should download a copy of the Colab file in advance of section, and bring their laptops to section.

Discussion assignment (extra credit, bonus points: 10 + up to 5 bonus):#

Find an example of a graph, chart, or other data visualization which recently appeared in the news or media, and critique it: Would the information come across more clearly if the data were presented in a different type of visualization? Is the graphic misleading, and if so, does the presenter have an interest in misleading the audience?

  • The more reputable the source, the better.

  • Take a screenshot of the mistake in its context.

  • Upload a link and screenshot of to the Google Poll by 08:00AM on Thursday, April 24.

  • The Poll will also ask you for your critique.

If your example is chosen for show and tell, you get 5 additional bonus points.

Discussion Agenda#

Show and tell (5 minutes)#

The discussion instructor selects an example of ``visualizations ripe for critique’’ screenshots from their section.

For each selection, the student curator explains why they chose the example.

The class goes through the exercise of critiquing the visualization. Could the data have been presented in an alternative and more illuminating form? Is the visualization misleading?

Data visualization with AI programming (45 minutes)#

  • The discussion instructor walks the class through the examples present in the Colab file. There is an example of each of: a. Pie Chart b. Bar Graph c. Histogram d. Scatterplot e. Time series

  • Students spend the rest of section using AI in Colab to program their own graphic visualizations of data from the course data survey, collected last Friday, assisted by discussion instructor.

Contents