Media and Communication

https://guides.nyu.edu/mims

Open a Google Chrome browser (if you do not have Chrome installed on your device, you can install it by visiting https://www.google.com/chrome/). Select a dataset from the list to work on a visualization. These datasets have been structured and cleaned so you can use them effectively in Google Sheets or ESRI Online.

Once you open a dataset, go to File > Make a copy... to add to your drive. Then you can add to the data, try sample visualizations in Google Sheets, or export as a .CSV and load into ESRI Online. If the group does not like any of these data sources, feel free to develop a new one.

In small groups, discuss the sample visualizations below (this is all the same data; it’s just visualized differently). In your group, ask any of the following questions:

• What information do these visualizations show? What information is missing or unclear?
• What questions do these maps or visualizations lead you to ask? 
• What would make these maps more interesting? Better colors? More information, effects, or animations?
• What other information might back these visualizations more effective?
• What are the qualities of a good data visualization?
• How do these maps show how the same core data can be visualized differently?

Visualization One

This graph is a histogram that shows the distribution by age of people in the study who were not born in the United States.

Visualization Two

This dashboard shows a range of data points from the data on the experiences of second generation young adults in the United States.

Visualization Three

This map represents locations of people in the 1990s who participated in the Second Generation study and who lived in the greater New York City area.

Link to map