Interpretation and visualisation of data from dairy herds

Vets often use key performance indicators (KPIs) to evaluate the actual performance status of a dairy herd. Basic knowledge of data analysis is necessary to interpret these KPIs correctly, but unfortunately vets often lack the training and knowledge required to do this. This article aims to make vets aware of common data interpretation errors and discusses four data misinterpretation pitfalls - variation, momentum, lag and bias - as well as introduces the concept of data visualisation, such as the use of graphs and charts, to help vets avoid these pitfalls

Does seeing entail believing? Visualising information during societal crises

Despite the shared belief that information visualisations are immune to manipulation, as visual stimuli, they “are no different from words in this regard, for any means of communication can be used to deceive” (Tufte, 1983). This paper discusses the power of information visualisation in engendering “a narrative experience” (Segel et Al., 2010) that cannot be considered politically neutral (Boehnert, 2016). In this sense, it can be compared to the concept of “tropes” (Haraway, 1988) which are narrative tools transmitting political and social agendas. The paper explores the existing literature addressing the circulation of information disorders (Wardle & Derakhshan, 2019) on social media platforms when supported by information visualisations. The starting point is that the complexity of the topic, its interdisciplinarity, and the dense availability of reflections call for a crisis, a “fracture line” (Foucault, 1969), that can lead to the unveiling of omitted dimensions. The exploration enabled the identification of a space for reconsidering critical approaches to information visualisation circulating on social media by defining literacy resources that combine terminologies, views, methodologies and approaches from diverse disciplines and fields

Comprendiendo la comunicación visual en las redes sociales: una propuesta real de análisis

El presente trabajo se ha realizado dentro del Programa de Doctorado en Formación en la Sociedad del Conocimiento de la Universidad de Salamanca http://knowledgesociety.usal.es[ES]Este artículo presenta un proyecto de investigación actualmente en desarrollo que pretende implementar una serie de herramientas y sistemas que permitan a investigadores entender los flujos de comunicación visual que suceden en las redes sociales, permitiendo a su vez realizar análisis cualitativos y cuantitativos sobre dichos procesos. Dicho análisis trata de descubrir los patrones de aprendizaje por imitación que se dan en los contextos visuales de las redes sociales, así como analizar el uso del lenguaje visual dentro de las mismas, todo ello apoyado por el descubrimiento de contextos conversacionales reales donde los procesos de comunicación se producen de forma puramente visual entre usuarios que no tienen porqué tener conocimientos sobre la semántica, gramática o vocabulario implícito en el lenguaje visual. Con el fin de explicar cómo los investigadores están desarrollando los sistemas y herramientas que permiten realizar dicho análisis, el presente artículo incluye una explicación sobre el contexto de problema real, las consideraciones generales presentes en esta área de investigación, y la propuesta que los autores presentan para hacer frente a los problemas que presenta este tipo de análisis sobre imágenes y redes sociales, explicando al mismo tiempo los conceptos principales necesarios para resolver dicho problema desde un punto de vista técnico.El presente trabajo se ha realizado dentro del Programa de Doctorado en Formación en la Sociedad del Conocimiento de la Universidad de Salamanca http://knowledgesociety.usal.e

A field guide to visualisation-supported information disorders for media and information literacy

This paper describes a doctoral research project that investigates the interconnections between the biased nature of information visualisations, the circulation of information disorders on social media platforms, and the consumption of information during societal crisis situations. The object of the research is a field guide that categorises misleading information visualisations that circulate on social media platforms during such crises a priori, resulting in a twofold contribution to knowledge. Firstly, it systematises existing knowledge in the field of information design, and secondly, it provides a novel educational resource to support Media and Information Literacy initiatives and curricula

Truncating the Y-Axis: Threat or Menace?

Bar charts with y-axes that don't begin at zero can visually exaggerate effect sizes. However, advice for whether or not to truncate the y-axis can be equivocal for other visualization types. In this paper we present examples of visualizations where this y-axis truncation can be beneficial as well as harmful, depending on the communicative and analytic intent. We also present the results of a series of crowd-sourced experiments in which we examine how y-axis truncation impacts subjective effect size across visualization types, and we explore alternative designs that more directly alert viewers to this truncation. We find that the subjective impact of axis truncation is persistent across visualizations designs, even for designs with explicit visual cues that indicate truncation has taken place. We suggest that designers consider the scale of the meaningful effect sizes and variation they intend to communicate, regardless of the visual encoding

The interpretation of statistical graphs given in the press: advancing towards citizen training

Background: statistical graphs in communication media validates that which communicates, considering that every media has editorial orientation, and is central to the development of citizen capacity for the critical interpretation of graph information. So it is necessary to understand the processes of interpreting graphs in communication media to improve statistical learning. Objective: systematise elements that concur to the action of critical interpretation of the statistical graphs used in communication media. Design: from the socioepistemology and two studies, we focus on the analysis of textualities of the interpretations of graphs published in the press. We characterise operational, perceptual, and experiential elements that concur to the construction of meanings regarding the graphic phenomenon. Setting and participants: this research was done with two groups: students from the 11th grade of schooling in Chile, who carry out an interpreting activity; and university statistics professors from Peru and Chile, who answered a semi-structured interview. Data analysis: through the content analysis of textualities, units of meaning are identified from open encodings, grouped according to operational, perceptual or experiential aspects. Results: the act of interpreting graphs constitutes a space of epistemic activity that allows us to know the graph. In particular, the use of qualitative and perceptual comparisons that make the interpretation permeable to tendentious modifications of graphic elements is evident. Conclusions: it is necessary to incorporate press graphs into didactic designs, with a socio-critical discussion regarding the use of graphs in communication, to strengthen citizenship