Data Visualization and Communication Flashcards
7 cards from real Data Science practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Data Visualization and Communication flashcards as text
Which storytelling structure is commonly used to frame a data presentation?
Answer: Situation, complication, resolution
A situation-complication-resolution arc gives data narratives a logical, persuasive flow.
When should you use a stacked area chart instead of multiple line charts?
Answer: When emphasizing cumulative totals and part-to-whole over time
Stacked area charts emphasize how components accumulate into a total across time.
What is 'chart junk'?
Answer: Non-essential decorative elements that distract from the data
Chart junk refers to unnecessary decoration that adds no information and distracts viewers.
Which approach best directs a viewer's attention to the single most important data point in a chart?
Answer: Use a preattentive cue like a contrasting highlight color on that point
Highlighting one element with a contrasting color leverages preattentive processing to draw the eye.
Why is a log scale sometimes used on an axis?
Answer: To better display data spanning several orders of magnitude
A log scale compresses wide-ranging values so patterns across magnitudes are visible.
What is the best way to handle a chart with too many overlapping data series?
Answer: Use small multiples or filter to key series
Small multiples or filtering reduce overplotting and make individual patterns readable.
When communicating uncertainty in an estimate, which visual element is most appropriate?
Answer: Error bars or confidence interval bands
Error bars or confidence bands explicitly show the range of uncertainty around an estimate.