|
Abstract:
|
When planning a study, statisticians must communicate difficult concepts to nonstatistical experts. Too often, we hide behind abstract concepts or focus on "logos" (logical argument), ignoring "pathos" and "ethos" as the other elements of persuasive speech. Real life case studies will be used to demonstrate these principles. While words must be processed sequentially, good graphs harness the eye's parallel processing power. Important features of good graphs will be elucidated by example. Even numbers can be printed in ways that benefit from parallel visual processing, too. We call this property "glanceability" and show how simple changes may turn confusing output into highly glanceable displays. In summary, statisticians are masters of information, but we need to get better at communication. Important tools toward this goal are persuasive speech and effective data presentation.
|
