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Rugaimukamu, D.M. Methodology of Research From Crafts of Research Chapter 12 Communicating Evidence Visually. Introduction. Writers think about it only at the very end of their writing process Depending on ones field, should be thought at the first stage of drafting
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Rugaimukamu, D.M. Methodology of Research From Crafts of Research Chapter 12 Communicating Evidence Visually
Introduction • Writers think about it only at the very end of their writing process • Depending on ones field, should be thought at the first stage of drafting • Helps presentation of evidence visually • Research quality is judged by claims significance and arguments power • Before that judgements what is written must be understood
…Cont • With discreet items in the data e.g. list of names, objects etc. should be reduced to few word • So doing will help leaders understand your data hence your arguments • Visually through tables, charts, graphs, diagrams, maps
Visual or Verbal? • Visual or verbal presentation of data depend on • The kind of data • How they can best be understood by readers • How readers are expected to respond to them
Characteristics of data for visual presentation • They include independent elements • Independent elements are symmetrically related to quantities or qualities called dependent variables. • examples
Independent elements and dependent variables • The population of Oswego, Will and Tuttle countries fell as a result of a 3.1% drop in manufacturing from 1970 through 1990 and 65.9% in family farms in Tuttle alone …. Page 176 • As a result, from 1983 through 1993, the population of these countries, steadily declined Turtle by 10,102 or 49.3%, from 20,502 to 10,400 … Page 176
Visual representation • (>>)
General Principles of construction • Plan what has to be accomplished by your table, chart or graph • precision expected by your readers- use tables • Rhetorical and visual impact to your readers • Charts and graph are visually more striking • Charts invites readers to make comparison • Graphs invite readers to see a story • If readers are to see point in the data • Tables encourage readers to interpret the data • Charts and graphs seem to make your point more directly
Three principles of construction • The more organised, the better • Identify patterns you want readers to notice • The simpler the better • Before or after readers sees those data, state the point that you think they make and that you want your reader to understand
Tables • Are useful when you • Want to convey precise values • Have to present a large array of data • Do not know or not want to say which aspects of the data will be most important to leaders • Are objective and encourage readers to draw their own conclusion
Types of tables • Are of two type • Number tables • Should help readers to see what you want them to. Such as comparing values, finding specific values etc. • Word tables • Should be used only for conceptual relationships that are straight forward
Examples • Only use word tables for conceptual relationships that are straightforward • Word tables have the risk of being seen as reductive. Leaders feel that, you have oversimplified concepts • Most readers will dismiss the second table as crude overgeneralization
Charts • Bar Charts, Pie charts, volume charts • In general, help readers to understand generally not precisely • Depending on the situation to be presented, an appropriate one can be selected • (<<)
Graphs • Do not easily communicate precise values • Effectively, they can show rough relationships among many points
Controlling the rhetorical impact of a visual • Generally, the kind of data should determine the kind of the visual • But important to consider rhetorical impact you want to communicate
Visual Communication and Ethics • When you select a visual for its impact, remember that your rhetorical decision has an ethical dimension • Tell your story to get the right impact and your responsibility not just to the facts but to their appearance • Extra careful need be taken on visual devices as they seem to present data so clearly and so powerfully.
Connecting words and pictures • Visual can’t speak for themselves (>>) • Should be labelled careful with the caption suggesting the point of the visual • Tables and figures should be • Labelled separately • Kept close to the text discussing them • Referred in the text body • If possible, highlight the part of the image that is so important
Handle Claim Verify Police Handle Claim Finalize Deal Prepare Offer Determine Amount Whose Fault? Insurance Company Get Accident Info Determine Fault Minimal Repairs Accident Information Injury Info Appraise Damage Sufficient Treatment Appraiser Police Witness Doctor Handle Claim Goal (<<)
Illustrations • Other than tables, charts and graph other visual tools are used to illustrate conceptual matters. • General guidelines. Details on page 195.
Making the logic of your organisation visible • In some fields particularly humanities, writers use few visual resources to signal their logic • Emphasize few words with italics, boldface but communicates their logic • In other academic areas and almost all non academic areas writers use visual resources to help readers understand their logic • You should assume that, most readers prefer to see information structured visually and when they do, will absorb more of it.