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. 2014 Jul:40:105-128.
doi: 10.1146/annurev-soc-071312-145551.

Data Visualization in Sociology

Kieran Healy  1 , James Moody  1
Affiliations

Data Visualization in Sociology

Kieran Healy et al. Annu Rev Sociol. 2014 Jul.

Abstract

Visualizing data is central to social scientific work. Despite a promising early beginning, sociology has lagged in the use of visual tools. We review the history and current state of visualization in sociology. Using examples throughout, we discuss recent developments in ways of seeing raw data and presenting the results of statistical modeling. We make a general distinction between those methods and tools designed to help explore datasets, and those designed to help present results to others. We argue that recent advances should be seen as part of a broader shift towards easier sharing of the code and data both between researchers and with wider publics, and encourage practitioners and publishers to work toward a higher and more consistent standard for the graphical display of sociological insights.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Visualizations reveal Model Summary Failures.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Minard’s visualization of Napoleon’s advance on and retreat from Moscow.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Default diagnostic plots for a linear model.
Figure 4
Figure 4
A generalized pairs plot handles categorical data easily, and in different ways.
Figure 5
Figure 5
A correlation matrix represented as a tiled heatmap (upper triangle) with color-keyed correlation coefficients (lower triangle).
Figure 6
Figure 6
A parallel coordinates plot highlighting a possibly relevant grouping variable.
Figure 7
Figure 7
In comparison to a standard histogram (left), a log-log histogram (right) reveals tail details.
Figure 8
Figure 8
The relative PDF distribution of permanent wage growth in the original and recent NLS cohorts. A decile bar chart is superimposed on the density estimate. The upper axis is labeled in permanent differences in log wages (Handcock & Morris 1999).
Figure 9
Figure 9
(a) Vector diagram for latent trajectory model of perceived control by age, cohort and education. (b) Predicted probabilities and standard errors plotted from a mutinomial model.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Network exemplar of moving between software default and presentation results. Left: PAJEK defaults. Right: Edited for presentation.
Figure 11
Figure 11
A New York Times (2009) interactive choropleth map allows users to explore historical and geographical patterns of migration to the United States.
Figure 12
Figure 12
Two visualizations of comparative, longitudinal data.
Figure 13
Figure 13
Aggregation and a known dimension (a polarization scale) simplifies a complex network layout. From Moody & Much (2013).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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