{"id":542,"date":"2022-02-24T14:05:40","date_gmt":"2022-02-24T19:05:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca\/criticaldataliteracy\/?post_type=chapter&p=542"},"modified":"2022-02-28T12:12:38","modified_gmt":"2022-02-28T17:12:38","slug":"strategies-for-critically-assessing-data-visualizations-step-4","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/criticaldataliteracy\/chapter\/strategies-for-critically-assessing-data-visualizations-step-4\/","title":{"raw":"Step 4: Focus on Content and Visual Encoding","rendered":"Step 4: Focus on Content and Visual Encoding"},"content":{"raw":"The most important element of most data visualizations is their content and how that content is [pb_glossary id=\"231\"]visually encoded[\/pb_glossary].\r\n\r\nEssentially, data visualizations are always built with symbols that follow a set of rules. This might sound a bit complicated, so let\u2019s break it down using Figure 2.7[footnote]Statistics Canada. Table 18-10-0002-01 Monthly average retail prices for food and other selected products. Data is reproduced and distributed on an \"as is\" basis with the permission of Statistics Canada. Retrieved February 2nd, 2022. DOI: https:\/\/doi.org\/10.25318\/1810000201-eng. Statistics Canada Open Licence: https:\/\/www.statcan.gc.ca\/en\/reference\/licence[\/footnote] below,\u00a0 a standard bar chart of monthly average retail prices for two food categories in Canada from January to July 2021.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_347\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"691\"]\"A Figure 2.7. A standard bar graph of monthly average retail prices in Canada, comparing the cost of 1 kg of steak vs. 1 kg of mushrooms from January to July 2021.[\/caption]\r\n\r\nLet\u2019s focus on the visual encoding, and the \u201crules\u201d that this chart is following. Click on each method below to learn more about the \"rules\" that are being followed in Figure 2.7.\r\n\r\n[h5p id=\"18\"]\r\n\r\nThis may all seem obvious, but it is important to understand the \u201crules\u201d of the data visualization that you are looking at to interpret it correctly. This will also help you recognize when the rules are being broken to manipulate the data or alter the way that you perceive the data.\r\n
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Exercises<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n

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The most important element of most data visualizations is their content and how that content is