DSC 651 DATA REPRESENTATION AND REPORTING TECHNIQUES

INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT
Name: Muhd Fakhrullah Bin Mohd Zaini

Student ID: 2020995275

Group: 5B

Words Count: 700

Marking Rubric:

Task Marks
Able to find Two Visualizations 10
Able to identify the Faults 18
Explanation provided for the Faults 18
Fix proposed for the Faults 18
Explanation provided for the Fixes 18
Extra points: Creativity of proposed visualization(s) 10
Extra points: Submission nicely formatted 8
Total 100

Visualization 1
DSC 651 DATA REPRESENTATION AND REPORTING TECHNIQUES

This pie chart was created by Saskatchewan Health Authority, it represents the
location where the majority of Saskatchewan residents contract Covid-19. The pie chart, on
the other hand, was discovered in a Facebook post by Valerie Joy posted on 3 May 2021.
https://www.facebook.com/valerie.horner.77/posts/10160844645064428.

The first flaw in the pie chart is the different pattern in which the pie chart segments
are ordered. The majority of the segment is mixed, and the pie chart does not do a good job
of displaying consistency. As the user must frequently refer to the pie chart to establish the
correct positioning, this can make it difficult to comprehend and evaluate the data.

The usage of colour in the pie chart is the second issue to be found. The green
colour that indicates contact/household and the colour that represents retail/other business
are similar, making it difficult to distinguish between the data of each sector. It also lead to
confusion and increased the complexity to understand the chart. This is a common mistake
when applying pie charts that have a lot of data.

Finally, a pie chart with too many slices is an example of a poor way to illustrate data.
As a result, comparing all of the segments in the pie chart becomes difficult. Because the
information is disorganised and confusing, the pie chart may become irrelevant. The most
effective pie chart has fewer than five segments.
DSC 651 DATA REPRESENTATION AND REPORTING TECHNIQUES

Using a different graph, such as a horizontal bar graph, is one of the options. This
graph can accommodate a large amount of data and uses the same colour as the values are
used to distinguish between them. This graph is an effective way to quickly estimate crucial
values while still being simple to understand for the user.

This graph helps in the resolving of the colour issue since it provides the use of the
same colour for all segments and factors, allowing the user to distinguish and compare data
solely on the basis of numbers. The user may also use the different length bars to compare
and analyse the content, making it more organised and digestible for the viewer.

Lastly, this horizontal bar graph also has been arranged in decreasing formation so
the viewer can understand the bar graph without extensive observation. This graph also will
become more organized and simpler to digest by the viewer.
DSC 651 DATA REPRESENTATION AND REPORTING TECHNIQUES

Visualization 2

This bar graph above was describing the price per square ft in Davis County in Utah,
United States from 1997 until 2021. On the other side, the bar chart was found in a
Facebook post by Ben Brown Cornerstone Real Estate on April 16, 2021.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?
story_fbid=4087050888023228&id=123606254367731&sfnsn=mo.

The first problem in this bar graph is that the font size on the x-axis, which represents
the year, is excessively large, making the graph difficult to read. In addition, the year was not
properly centred to match the bar graph. This might lead to the user's misunderstanding and
misinterpretation of data while selecting which year the bar graph represents.

The second problem with the bar graph is that the price in each bar is not assigned
and presented. The pricing on the y-axis has a large gap, making it impossible to determine
the actual value. This error will increase the number of mistakes the user makes when
attempting to obtain accurate information.

Finally, using bar graph in highly connected data is inefficient since they split the data
and make it difficult for the user to understand the value displayed. Users also tend to stare
at the graph frequently because the information is difficult to digest.
DSC 651 DATA REPRESENTATION AND REPORTING TECHNIQUES

Line graphs can help solve this problem by visually connecting the data points and
allowing the user to easily analyse the data. Since it demonstrates how data interacts and
transforms into useful information, a line graph can become more efficient than a bar graph.

Adjusting the font size and centering the word year on each stage would solve the
second problem. A slight distance between the points can also help the user understand the
graphic.

Lastly the line graph also must have displayed the exact price above it so that the
user does not have to find the value itself. This will improve the reliability of the information
presented.