Editorial to the Special Issue on Demographic Data Visualization: Getting the point across – Reaching the potential of demographic data visualization

Abstract

BACKGROUNDDemography is full of data visualization challenges, such as age-period-cohort effects or life course trajectories. Innovative approaches to visualizing such complex data structures have been proposed from within and outside the discipline. However, demographic data visualizations presented in the scientific literature often fall short of the state-of-the-art. OBJECTIVEWe discuss what makes a good data visualization and why it is worthwhile to strive for state-of-the-art visualization. We highlight the distinction between exploratory and explanatory graphics, and relate the seven papers that comprise the Demographic Research special collection on data visualization to the broader endeavor of data visualization in demography. CONTRIBUTIONWe suggest a set of best practice rules that are intended to provide general guidance for researchers attempting to produce meaningful and coherently designed figures from their data.

Visualization of demographic statistical data

“…There is a growing body of literature that recognizes the importance of data and statistics visualization 1049 (2022) 012076 IOP Publishing doi:10.1088/1755-1315/1049/1/012076 2 to a wide audience [5], and explores some aspects of visualization of statistical and scientific data [6]. Existing research recognizes the critical role played by methods of visualization and their perception [7]; and demographic data visualization [8].…”

“…Meanwhile, the analysis of the data visualization background highlights not only significant breakthrough in comprehension of the issue studied, but also indicates certain gaps in some important aspects of it. On the one hand, according to [8], good visualization, applied in a scientific context, improves the understanding of the underlying data without sacrificing truth for the sake of beauty. "Visualizations can be employed to efficiently explore and discover patterns in demographic data, to help viewers gain a better understanding of magnitudes, intensities, durations, changes, and differences, and to communicate these to large audiences" [8].…”

“…On the one hand, according to [8], good visualization, applied in a scientific context, improves the understanding of the underlying data without sacrificing truth for the sake of beauty. "Visualizations can be employed to efficiently explore and discover patterns in demographic data, to help viewers gain a better understanding of magnitudes, intensities, durations, changes, and differences, and to communicate these to large audiences" [8]. On the other hand, the current state of data visualization often does not meet societal needs, as the amount of statistical information is rapidly growing and constantly changing.…”