At the most basic level, data visualization is information encoded in graphical elements. Becoming comfortable with data visualization can mean learning different tools, studying principles of effective visualizations, gaining skills working with data, and ultimately deciding how to portray the information in those data. This guide aims to serve as a starting point for the subject of data visualization and provide relevant resources.
When looking at complex data in tabular or spreadsheet formats, it can be extremely difficult to detect patterns and to connect the data back to the meaning. Data visualizations tell a story, and when done properly they are understandable at a glance.
Not all visualizations tell one singular story from the data: they can also take a more exploratory and interactive form. This exploration can lead to making important discoveries about the data.
Research and data are particularly foundational in health science fields, and learning to make and understand data visualizations leads to being able to better understand and explain these foundational pieces of the puzzle. The resources in this guide will help you select appropriate visualization types, choose the tools that work for you, and develop effective visualizations that will allow you to tell the story behind your research or data.
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This guide was created by a Health Sciences Library and Informatics Center staff member and is licensed by the Health Science Library and Informatics Center of the University of New Mexico under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.