Data Visualization: A Must-Have Skill in Data Science

15 February 2024

By Christine López

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Data science is a booming field that involves collecting, analyzing, and interpreting large amounts of data to solve complex problems and generate insights. Data scientists use various methods and tools to manipulate, process, and present data in meaningful ways. However, one of the most important and often overlooked skills in data science is data visualization.

Data visualization is the art and science of creating graphical representations of data to communicate information, patterns, trends, and relationships. Data visualization can help data scientists to explore, understand, and explain data, as well as to persuade and inform audiences. In this article, I will discuss some of the data visualization techniques, the importance of data visualization in data science, the data visualization tools, and how to learn data visualization in data science.

Data Visualization Techniques

There are many types of data visualization techniques, depending on the purpose, the audience, and the data. Some of the common data visualization techniques are:

Charts: Charts are graphical displays of data that use symbols, such as bars, lines, or pie slices, to show numerical values. Charts can be used to compare, contrast, or show the distribution of data. For example, a bar chart can show the sales of different products, a line chart can show the change of temperature over time, and a pie chart can show the proportion of different categories.
Maps: Maps are graphical displays of data that use spatial dimensions, such as location, distance, or direction, to show geographical information. Maps can be used to show the distribution, density, or variation of data across regions. For example, a choropleth map can show the population density of different countries, a heat map can show the intensity of earthquakes, and a flow map can show the migration patterns of people.
Diagrams: Diagrams are graphical displays of data that use shapes, lines, or icons, to show logical, hierarchical, or networked relationships. Diagrams can be used to show the structure, process, or flow of data. For example, a tree diagram can show the classification of animals, a flowchart can show the steps of an algorithm, and a network diagram can show the connections of social media users.
Dashboards: Dashboards are graphical displays of data that use multiple visual elements, such as charts, maps, diagrams, or tables, to show a comprehensive overview of data. Dashboards can be used to monitor, summarize, or highlight key aspects of data. For example, a business dashboard can show the performance indicators, such as revenue, profit, or customer satisfaction, of a company, a health dashboard can show the vital signs, such as blood pressure, heart rate, or temperature, of a patient, and a sports dashboard can show the statistics, such as score, time, or fouls, of a game.

Importance of Data Visualization in Data Science

Data visualization is an essential skill in data science for several reasons:

Exploration: Data visualization can help data scientists to explore and understand data, by revealing patterns, trends, outliers, or anomalies, that might not be obvious from numerical or textual data. Data visualization can also help data scientists to identify data quality issues, such as missing values, errors, or inconsistencies, that need to be addressed before further analysis. Data visualization can also help data scientists to generate hypotheses, questions, or insights, that can guide their data analysis.
Explanation: Data visualization can help data scientists to explain and communicate data, by simplifying complex data into intuitive and engaging visuals, that can convey the main message, story, or argument, of the data analysis. Data visualization can also help data scientists to persuade and influence audiences, by appealing to their emotions, logic, or values, and by providing evidence, context, or recommendations, based on the data analysis. Data visualization can also help data scientists to demonstrate their expertise, credibility, or professionalism, by showing their data skills, knowledge, or creativity.
Education: Data visualization aids data scientists in educating and raising awareness among audiences about data-related subjects, issues, or solutions. It enhances their understanding and piques their interest. Data visualization also serves as a teaching tool, delivering interactive, feedback-oriented, or adaptive learning experiences that can boost their data literacy, technical skills, or competencies. Additionally, it has the potential to inspire and motivate audiences by igniting their curiosity, imagination, or action in data-centric domains, fields, or careers.

Data Visualization Tools

There are many data visualization tools available, ranging from simple to complex, from general to specific, and from free to paid. Some of the popular data visualization tools are:

Excel: Excel is a spreadsheet software that can create basic charts, such as bar, line, or pie charts, from data tables. Excel is easy to use, widely available, and compatible with other Microsoft products. Excel is suitable for simple, static, or standard data visualization tasks, such as reporting, summarizing, or comparing data.
Tableau: Tableau, a data visualization software, can create enhanced charts such as maps, dashboards, or narratives from various data sources. It's user-friendly, potent, and versatile. Tableau is suitable for intricate, dynamic, or custom data visualization tasks like data exploration, analysis or presentation.
Python: Python, a coding language, can create a variety of charts like histograms, scatter plots, or box plots drawn from data arrays. It's adaptable, expressive, and open-source. Python is appropriate for diverse, programmable, or scalable data visualization tasks like data manipulation, processing, or modeling.
R: R, a coding language, can create a variety of charts like heat maps, network diagrams, or word clouds from data frames. It's exhaustive, statistical, and open-source. R is suitable for diverse, programmable, or scalable data visualization tasks like data manipulation, processing, or modeling.

Learning Data Visualization in Data Science

Data visualization is a skill that can be learned and improved, by following some of the best practices, resources, and examples. Some of the tips for learning data visualization in data science are:

Practice: The best way to learn data visualization is through consistent practice. This involves creation, alteration, or assessment of data visualizations using a variety of data sets, tools, and techniques. Constant practice aids in the development of key skills like data manipulation, designing graphs, and weaving a compelling narrative. Furthermore, it provides experience in data exploration, elucidation, and education.
Learn: Another effective approach to master data visualization is by learning from available resources. This can be done by consuming content from data visualization books, blogs, podcasts, or courses. Learn can help to acquire data visualization knowledge, such as data visualization principles, methods, or examples. Learn can also help to update data visualization trends, such as data visualization tools, applications, or challenges.
Share: Lastly, sharing your work is an effective way to learn data visualization. This could be in the form of presentations, publications, or discussions about data visualizations with varying audiences, on different platforms, or within communities. Sharing not only enhances the quality of the data visualizations in terms of clarity, accuracy, and effectiveness but also provides an opportunity to receive feedback in the form of comments, suggestions, or constructive criticism.

Conclusion

Data visualization is a must-have skill in data science, as it can help data scientists to explore, understand, and explain data, as well as to persuade and inform audiences. Data visualization can be done using various techniques, such as charts, maps, diagrams, or dashboards, depending on the purpose, the audience, and the data. Data visualization can be done using various tools, such as Excel, Tableau, Python, or R, depending on the complexity, the functionality, and the cost. Data visualization can be learned and improved, by practicing, learning, and sharing data visualizations, using different data sets, tools, or techniques.

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