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Graphic Methods for Presenting Facts
Excerpt from Graphic Methods for Presenting Facts
We daily see facts presented in the hope of creating interest and action for some really worthy piece Of work to benefit the people as a whole. In many of these cases the attitude Of the person presenting the matter seems to be that the facts will speak for themselves and that they need little or no assistance. Ordinarily, facts do not speak for themselves. When they do speak for themselves, the wrong conclu sions are Often drawn from them. Unless the facts are presented in a clear and interesting manner, they are about as effective as a phono graph record with the phonograph missing. If it were more generally realized how much depends upon the method of presenting facts, as compared with the facts themselves, there would be a great increase in the use of the graphic methods of presentation. Unlimited numbers Of reports, magazines, and news papers are now giving us reams Of quantitative facts. If the facts were put in graphic form, not only would there be a great saving in the time Of the readers but there would be infinite gain to society, because more facts could be absorbed and with less danger Of mis interpretation. Graphic methods usually require no more space than is needed if the facts are presented in the form Of words. In many cases, the graphic method requires less space than is required for words and there is, besides, the great advantage that with graphic methods facts are presented so that the reader may make deductions Of his own, while when words are used the reader must usually accept the ready-made conclusions handed to him.
We daily see facts presented in the hope of creating interest and action for some really worthy piece Of work to benefit the people as a whole. In many of these cases the attitude Of the person presenting the matter seems to be that the facts will speak for themselves and that they need little or no assistance. Ordinarily, facts do not speak for themselves. When they do speak for themselves, the wrong conclu sions are Often drawn from them. Unless the facts are presented in a clear and interesting manner, they are about as effective as a phono graph record with the phonograph missing. If it were more generally realized how much depends upon the method of presenting facts, as compared with the facts themselves, there would be a great increase in the use of the graphic methods of presentation. Unlimited numbers Of reports, magazines, and news papers are now giving us reams Of quantitative facts. If the facts were put in graphic form, not only would there be a great saving in the time Of the readers but there would be infinite gain to society, because more facts could be absorbed and with less danger Of mis interpretation. Graphic methods usually require no more space than is needed if the facts are presented in the form Of words. In many cases, the graphic method requires less space than is required for words and there is, besides, the great advantage that with graphic methods facts are presented so that the reader may make deductions Of his own, while when words are used the reader must usually accept the ready-made conclusions handed to him.
- GenresDesignNonfiction
382 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1919
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 19, 2018
I gave this book 3 stars due to its style and core principles of data reading. From content-wise, there has been enormous progress after this book. So, most of the work presented here is obsoleted. Nonetheless, basic principles of graphical representation of complex data can still be applied to the current needs of viz communications. Furthermore, if you like to look at the very first book on the topic then it is worth a read.
Caution: The online copy was too painful to read.
Caution: The online copy was too painful to read.
September 27, 2015
This book is a true classic, like many books of this era many things that are mentioned with great care in this book are now redundant and archaic.
This book still can serve as a great foundation to begin learning graphic methods or Data-viz
http://slides.com/alokpepakayala/graphicmethod
I find that reading this book in the pdf format now available is painful and thus put some effort to make it a slideshow which can be played on the browser, further if the below link is opened on a mobile/tablet can be added to home screen to use it like an app
This book still can serve as a great foundation to begin learning graphic methods or Data-viz
http://slides.com/alokpepakayala/graphicmethod
I find that reading this book in the pdf format now available is painful and thus put some effort to make it a slideshow which can be played on the browser, further if the below link is opened on a mobile/tablet can be added to home screen to use it like an app
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews