Visual displays of data provide you and anyone else with a graphical display of what is often a complex array of quantitative data. A key strength of visualization is the ability to quickly enlighten you with key data. Rather than solely relying on your audience to interpret numerical values and statistics explained in a narrative, a visual display can easily illustrate descriptions, relationships, and trends. Although the focus is on simplicity, the researcher has an obligation to present these graphical displays in a clear and meaningful way.

To prepare for this Discussion:

For this Discussion, you will explore ways to appropriately display data.

• Review the Learning Resources for this week related to frequency distributions and graphic displays of data.
• Using the SPSS software, open the General Social Survey dataset found in this weeks Learning Resources.
• Next, create a figure or table from a few selected variables within the dataset.
• Finally, think about what is good about how the data are displayed in the figure or table you created and what is not so good.

By Day 3

Post your display of the table or figure you created and provide an explanation of why this would be the best way to display the data provided.

Reference

Frankfort-Nachmias, C., & Leon-Guerrero, A. (2015). Social statistics for a diverse society (7th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

• Chapter 3, Graphic Presentation (pp. 6595)

Wagner, W. E. (2016). Using IBM SPSS statistics for research methods and social science statistics (6th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

• Chapter 5, Charts and Graphs

Wagner, W. E. (2016). Using IBM SPSS statistics for research methods and social science statistics (6th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

• Chapter 11, Editing Output

Walden University Writing Center. (n.d.). General guidance on data displays. Retrieved from http://waldenwritingcenter.blogspot.com/2013/02/general-guidance-on-data-displays.html

Use this website to guide you as you provide appropriate APA formatting and citations for data displays.

Datasets

Document: Data Set 2014 General Social Survey (dataset file)

Use this dataset to complete this weeks Discussion.

Note: You will need the SPSS software to open this dataset.

Document: Data Set Afrobarometer (dataset file)

Use this dataset to complete this weeks Assignment.

Note: You will need the SPSS software to open this dataset.

Document: High School Longitudinal Study 2009 Dataset (dataset file)

Use this dataset to complete this weeks Assignment.

Note: You will need the SPSS software to open this dataset.