A Checklist For Good Graphical Practice

From: Gordon & Finch (2015) “Statistician Heal Thyself: Have We Lost the Plot?”, JCGS, 1210-1229,

These questions and suggestions are a useful set to apply to graphs designed for presentation purposes. I don’t agree with all of them, but they are a very good start for things to think about in graphical practice.

How clear is your purpose in communication?

  • What relationships or patterns can you identify in the graph?
  • Are these the relationships or patterns you intended to represent?
  • Can the viewer identify the patterns you wish to illustrate?
  • Are the important comparisons you wish to show salient?

Make clarity a high priority.

Choose standard forms fit for your purpose.

Consider detection issues.

Would panels help?

Align quantities to be compared on a common scale.

Does the graph have grid lines?

Are all the elements of the graph defined?

How much decoding work does the viewer have to do?