Module 2: How to Critically Analyze and Interpret Data Visualizations

Step 5: Step Back to Spot Patterns and Relationships

Now that you’ve spent some time identifying the features that support the data visualization (the scaffolding) and how the content itself is represented (visual encoding), you’re ready to step back and look for patterns, relationships and trends in the data. Figure 2.7[1] below displays an increase in data.

A scatterplot of the increase in registration for several trades over 2016-2020 (see caption for details).
Figure 2.8. A scatterplot shows the increase in apprenticeship registrations (2,000-11,000) for several trades over the course of 4 years: stationary engineers and power plant operators, landscapers, and refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics.

Some patterns or relationships may be immediately obvious, and others may take more time to make sense of.

Again, take your time.

  1. Statistics Canada. Table 37-10-0079-01 Registered apprenticeship training, registrations by major trade groups and sex. Data is reproduced and distributed on an "as is" basis with the permission of Statistics Canada. Retrieved February 2nd, 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25318/3710007901-eng. Statistics Canada Open Licence: https://www.statcan.gc.ca/en/reference/licence ↵

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Critical Data Literacy Copyright © 2022 by Nora Mulvaney and Audrey Wubbenhorst and Amtoj Kaur is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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