Data Visualization, Part 1

Do you communicate data and information to stakeholders? This issue is Part 1 of a two-part series on data visualization and evaluation. In Part 1, we introduce recent developments in the quantitative and qualitative data visualization field and provide a historical perspective on data visualization, its potential role in evaluation practice, and future directions. It discusses: <ul> <li>Quantitative visualization methods such as tree maps</li> <li>Sparklines</li> <li>Web-based interactive visualization</li> <li>Different types of qualitative data visualizations, along<br />with examples in various evaluation contexts</li> <li>A toolography describing additional data visualization tools<br />and software, along with their major strengths and limitations.</li> </ul> <p>Intended as a guidance for understanding and designing data visualizations, this issue introduces fundamental concepts and links them to daily practice.<br /><br />This is the 139^th volume of the Jossey-Bass quarterly report series <i>New Directions for Evaluation</i>, an official publication of the American Evaluation Association.<br /><br /></p>