WHERE ARE WE?!? Data Storytelling
Data Storytelling is the process of creating a narrative around a dataset. This narrative can be used to inform, persuade, or entertain. It is a way to communicate the insights we’ve gained from our data to others.
TODAY’S GOALS
In Project Milestone 4, your group shared introductory material (eg: intro paragraphs, first viz, etc) and each individual pursued their own follow-up questions. Today, you’re going to:
For more on this topic
Read: Communicating with Data (Nolan and Stoudt)
EXAMPLE 1
In putting together a cohesive story, it’s important to think about both content (what you did and found in your data analysis) and narrative (how you deliver that content). Let’s focus on the narrative here. The following is an excerpt from a 2-author paper. What’s wrong with the narrative? (Focus on the big picture writing, not details about the plots or content.)
Kangaroos are the cutest! Here we focus on our 3 faves, the fuliginosus, giganteus, and melanops species. These buddies differ in many ways, including the depths of the lower jaw bones:
# Load data & packages
library(tidyverse)
roos <- read.csv("https://ajohns24.github.io/data/kangaroos2.csv")
# Plot lower jaw bone depth
ggplot(roos, aes(x = squamosal.depth, fill = species)) +
geom_density(alpha = 0.5) +
labs(x = "lower jaw bone depth (mm)")
The researchers’ investigation into these Macropodidae species extended beyond their squamosal depths. Of primary interest was the relationships among various cranial features. For example, the researchers observed that squamosal depths tend to increase with zygomatic widths:
# Plot squamosal.depth vs zygomatic.width
ggplot(roos, aes(y = squamosal.depth, x = zygomatic.width, color = species)) +
geom_point()
EXAMPLE 2
To reiterate, in putting together a cohesive story, it’s important to think about both content (what you did and found in your data analysis) and narrative (how you deliver that content). The following is an excerpt from a 3-author paper. What’s wrong with the narrative?
We first looked into how the lower jaw bone depth varies by kangaroo species. Though there are many similarities, melanops tend to have the smallest lower jaw bones and fuliginosus can have lower jaw bones that grow to be quite large in comparison:
# Load data & packages
library(tidyverse)
roos <- read.csv("https://ajohns24.github.io/data/kangaroos2.csv")
# Plot lower jaw bone depth
ggplot(roos, aes(x = squamosal.depth, fill = species)) +
geom_density(alpha = 0.5)
Though longer nasal bones are associated with wider cheekbones within each species, fuliginosus kangaroos tend to have narrower cheekbones relative to nasal length:
# Plot nasal length vs cheekbone width
ggplot(roos, aes(y = nasal.length, x = zygomatic.width, color = species)) +
geom_point()
Finally, male kangaroos tend to have wider cheekbones:
# Plot cheekbone width by sex
ggplot(roos, aes(x = zygomatic.width, fill = sex)) +
geom_density(alpha = 0.5)
To make a cohesive, multi-author story:
Complete the following for each person in your group:
Now let’s combine your individual contributions into a cohesive group data story. Nolan and Stoudt lay out a 6-step process:
Collect tables and plots: gather all the relevant visuals and tables you’ve created
Group related findings: organize the visuals and tables into groups that tell a coherent story
Find the story: consider the connections between the groups and sequence the groups so you can tell a story
Choose tables and plots: select or design the most important visuals and tables to include in the final presentation
Sequence the tables and plots: consider the flow of details needed to understand the data and visuals
Add captions and transitions: write a summary for each plot and a description for why it matters
And one more step:
Directions
Work through the above 6 steps in a way that makes sense for your group. Either:
Start a template for your final report. Use the above 6 steps to create an outline of your data story.
OR: Use a storyboarding technique. A storyboard is a series of illustrations or images displayed in sequence to depict important milestones and changes in the narrative.
This assignment is posted on Moodle.
Upcoming due dates:
Thursday 12/5 (11:59pm): Project Milestone 5.
Tuesday 12/10 (5pm): Final project report and documentation
Saturday 12/14 (12pm): Final project reflection form due
Saturday 12/14 (1:30-3:30pm): Final presentations
Though you’re welcome to attend the full 2 hours, each group will be assigned to present (and be present) during a 1-hour block: