Sunday, February 16, 2020

[quotes] Effective Data Storytelling - Brent Dykes 2020

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"If literacy is defined as the ability to read and write, data literacy can be defined as the ability to understand and communicate data."

"I have observed five key steps to driving value from analytics: data, information, insight, decision, and action."

"The right fact at the right moment may catch your attention, but it may not speak as well to other people as it does to you. On its own, data often doesn't possess the inherent strength needed to be more than just noise - let alone to drive action. Without the right context and explanation, it can easily be misunderstood, forgotten, or dismissed."

"Only when the facts are inconsistent with our preferred judgments do we question their accuracy or demand more data."

"Two key tools in their handbook underline the importance of telling stories with data. First, when you seek to correct a myth or misconception, you must be mindful to craft an alternative narrative around your new facts. Otherwise, your audience will be left with a gap in their mental model where the myth was debunked with nothing to fill it."

"Whenever we are fortunate enough to come across a valuable insight, we have a responsibility as its steward or guardian to see it realize its full potential."

"Each event serves a purpose in advancing the story and developing the characters. Similarly, how you structure and sequence the information forms the backbone of your data story. Sometimes, what is left out is just as critical to the story's success as what is included."

"On closer examination, it is hard to separate the storyteller from the story. The insights or ideas that someone shares through visual narratives represent discoveries that have enlightened that individual's mind. A data story can never be just an arbitrary collection of facts that is passively disseminated. Each data story is prepared and told by someone who cares about the numbers and sees a purpose in sharing the data with others."

"Digital marketing evangelist and author Avinash Kaushik recommends evaluating each insight in the following three ways, which form the foundation of his 'so what' test:
1. Why should your audience care?
2. What should they do about it?
3. What's the potential business impact?"

"Whenever possible you want to place data elements that are being compared in close proximity to each other."

"You start by confirming you have the right data to visualize each story point. Your choice of what data to visualize can mute or amplify the points you're trying to make."

"Basically, this means you need to limit your scene to feature only one visual. You can have multiple charts in the same scene as long as they're tied to a single story point."

"The natural consequence of sharing an insight is change."

"As this is a relatively new field within the ancient discipline of storytelling, we'll continue to see new innovations and approaches in data storytelling as our capabilities and creativity evolve."

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