Would the 'draw your own line' viz be an example of a viz instilling doubt? For most viewers the line you draw is nothing like what the actual data shows so you realise how little you know.
Another example could be the hurricane path projection possible paths?
What do you think is the difference between using data and using other objective characteristics of things like color or shape? Data are just things that have a measured size. A graph is just a translation of words about these things into a shorter and faster language through pictures that make it possible. Anything can be used to prove or create doubt, to convince, to entertain, etc.
You can also write about the fact that the earth is flat in words and add a picture to demonstrate it. :)
There is nothing in data and data visualization in this respect that is different from any other means of communication. It is a text about things that we decide what to write in this text.
I think the difference is that data is commonly used to make people more certain about something. The “hard evidence.” The rhetoric is different. Words tends to be perceived more like opinions and subjective, whereas data as neutral and objective.
So it's actually an illusion. Size is considered more objective than shape or color just because it is written in numbers and not letters? Is there a difference between "3" and "three"?
I think so. I have done research showing that graphical representations of data are (under some conditions) more persuasive than tables. You can find it here if you are curious: http://enrico.bertini.io/s/persuasion-tvcg2014.pdf.
Would the 'draw your own line' viz be an example of a viz instilling doubt? For most viewers the line you draw is nothing like what the actual data shows so you realise how little you know.
Another example could be the hurricane path projection possible paths?
Yes! I was thinking about the draw the line one yesterday!
In which way do you think the hurricane one instills doubt?
Because it shows how many possible different paths it could take, and we're not sure which one it will end up following.
What do you think is the difference between using data and using other objective characteristics of things like color or shape? Data are just things that have a measured size. A graph is just a translation of words about these things into a shorter and faster language through pictures that make it possible. Anything can be used to prove or create doubt, to convince, to entertain, etc.
You can also write about the fact that the earth is flat in words and add a picture to demonstrate it. :)
There is nothing in data and data visualization in this respect that is different from any other means of communication. It is a text about things that we decide what to write in this text.
I think the difference is that data is commonly used to make people more certain about something. The “hard evidence.” The rhetoric is different. Words tends to be perceived more like opinions and subjective, whereas data as neutral and objective.
So it's actually an illusion. Size is considered more objective than shape or color just because it is written in numbers and not letters? Is there a difference between "3" and "three"?
I think so. I have done research showing that graphical representations of data are (under some conditions) more persuasive than tables. You can find it here if you are curious: http://enrico.bertini.io/s/persuasion-tvcg2014.pdf.