Data visualization project using Circuit
25 points total (how project will be scaled after review taken into account)
See the course schedule (in Introductory Materials and Full Course Schedule Module) for due dates.
In this project, you will get the opportunity to play around with some more advanced data visualization tools so that you can practice explaining what trends the data is describing. Your answers and work should be uniquely your own. You will submit this project in Circuit. Instructions for using Circuit can be found in Brightspace. After the submission deadline passes, you will be asked to go back into Circuit to perform. 3 peer reviews and a self-review using a grading rubric.
In each of your peer reviews, you are required to write in the “Overall Feedback of Submission” section the following:
1) something you enjoyed about the submission
2) a strength in the student’s submission
3) a general comment about what the student could improve
4) reasons for deductions of any points.
Be thoughtful about your reviews. The goals of peer review assignments are to practice becoming a critical evaluator of information and how others explain statistics, practice giving quality constructive feedback, and learning from the feedback you receive. These are important skills that will serve you well in life.
You will be graded on your original project submission and the quality of your reviews.
Do not put your name on the project —Circuit will keep track of who you are.
Instructions: Go to the Gapminder website: https://www.gapminder.org/tools/#$chart-type=bubbles&url=v1
On this website you will create a bubble scatterplot graph to help you understand important trends over time and over locations for variables that are interesting to you. You will need to use pictures and words to convey information.
You have many options for how to adjust your graph and choose your variables of interest. Do not use the default settings! Take some time to play around with the settings. Do not use both of the same x-axis and y-axis variables that Hans Rosling uses in his video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8t4k0Q8e8Y) that we show with the lecture (income and life-expectancy), but you can use one of these with another variable.
Be sure to check out the How to Use page found in the top tool bar for more information about how to use this tool.
For ease of reviewing, please paste each question in bold into your project followed by your answer in plain text. Answer the following seven questions:
1. Tell your reviewer to go to this website: https://www.gapminder.org/tools/#$chart-type=bubbles&url=v1, and then explain what variables to select for the x-axis, y-axis, dot color, and dot size. Be sure to abide by the following restrictions:
a. Do not use time for any of the 4 variables
b. Do not repeat the same variable for any of the options.
c. Do not use all four of the variables from the default settings.
d. Do not use both of the same x-axis and y-axis variables that Hans Rosling uses in his video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8t4k0Q8e8Y) that we show with the lecture (income and life-expectancy), but you can use one of these with another variable.
Be clear with your instructions so your reviewer can see the visualization as you did. Include an image of your visualization for greater clarity.
2. For each of the 4 different variables above, state which ones are categorical and which are quantitative. You may need to do a little research to figure out what exactly your variable is measuring and how it was acquired in order to make a determination. It would be good to include details about the variable, if it’s not obvious.
3. Why are these variables interesting to you? (Don’t say “they’re not” or “they were the first option”. Your answer must be meaningful to the context.)
4. Press “play” at the bottom left-hand corner of your graph. Talk about important trends you notice in your x- and y-variables as time progresses. Include enough details that your reviewer will be able to quickly see what you see.
5. If you focus on just the color of the dots, what trend(s) do you notice based on the variable you chose for the color of your dots? Be sure to choose a variable that gives you at least 2 colors otherwise you won’t have much to talk about. Include enough details that your reviewer will be able to quickly see what you see.
6. If you focus on just the size of the dots, what trend(s) do you notice based on the variable you chose for the size of your dots? Include enough details that your reviewer will be able to quickly see what you see.
7. For whatever trend you found most interesting, do some research using other resources to figure out what might have been going on in the world at that time to explain why you are seeing that trend. Use APA format for your references. (For example, was there a war or a famine? Was there a contagious, deadly disease spreading? Was there a change in policy by people running the country? Or perhaps a medical breakthrough or new invention like birth control?) (1 paragraph answer)
It may be helpful to include images in your answers to show your reviewer exactly what you’re talking about. Remember that you have to insert your images into Circuit, you cannot just paste them in.
Use correct spelling, grammar, and professional presentation.