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Beyond Bar and Line Graphs: Time for a New Data Presentation Paradigm

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  • Tracey L Weissgerber
  • Natasa M Milic
  • Stacey J Winham
  • Vesna D Garovic

Abstract

Figures in scientific publications are critically important because they often show the data supporting key findings. Our systematic review of research articles published in top physiology journals (n = 703) suggests that, as scientists, we urgently need to change our practices for presenting continuous data in small sample size studies. Papers rarely included scatterplots, box plots, and histograms that allow readers to critically evaluate continuous data. Most papers presented continuous data in bar and line graphs. This is problematic, as many different data distributions can lead to the same bar or line graph. The full data may suggest different conclusions from the summary statistics. We recommend training investigators in data presentation, encouraging a more complete presentation of data, and changing journal editorial policies. Investigators can quickly make univariate scatterplots for small sample size studies using our Excel templates.A systematic review of research articles reveals widespread poor practice in the presentation of continuous data. The authors recommend training for investigators and supply templates for easy use.

Suggested Citation

  • Tracey L Weissgerber & Natasa M Milic & Stacey J Winham & Vesna D Garovic, 2015. "Beyond Bar and Line Graphs: Time for a New Data Presentation Paradigm," PLOS Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(4), pages 1-10, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pbio00:1002128
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1002128
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Regina Nuzzo, 2014. "Scientific method: Statistical errors," Nature, Nature, vol. 506(7487), pages 150-152, February.
    2. David Baker & Katie Lidster & Ana Sottomayor & Sandra Amor, 2014. "Two Years Later: Journals Are Not Yet Enforcing the ARRIVE Guidelines on Reporting Standards for Pre-Clinical Animal Studies," PLOS Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(1), pages 1-6, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Michael Greenacre, 2017. "Data reporting and visualization in ecology," Economics Working Papers 1558, Department of Economics and Business, Universitat Pompeu Fabra.
    2. Mariam Haji-Hassan & Tudor Călinici & Tudor Drugan & Sorana D. Bolboacă, 2022. "Effectiveness of Ultrasound Cardiovascular Images in Teaching Anatomy: A Pilot Study of an Eight-Hour Training Exposure," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-9, March.
    3. Eric-Jan Wagenmakers & Alexandra Sarafoglou & Sil Aarts & Casper Albers & Johannes Algermissen & Štěpán Bahník & Noah Dongen & Rink Hoekstra & David Moreau & Don Ravenzwaaij & Aljaž Sluga & Franziska , 2021. "Seven steps toward more transparency in statistical practice," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 5(11), pages 1473-1480, November.
    4. Joachim Goedhart, 2020. "PlotTwist: A web app for plotting and annotating continuous data," PLOS Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(1), pages 1-10, January.
    5. Lotte Schoot & Evelien Heyselaar & Peter Hagoort & Katrien Segaert, 2016. "Does Syntactic Alignment Effectively Influence How Speakers Are Perceived by Their Conversation Partner?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(4), pages 1-22, April.
    6. Daniel Theisen & Isabel Rada & Amélie Brau & Paul Gette & Romain Seil, 2016. "Muscle Activity Onset Prior to Landing in Patients after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(5), pages 1-17, May.
    7. Jesús Peral & Eduardo Gallego & David Gil & Mohan Tanniru & Prashant Khambekar, 2020. "Using Visualization to Build Transparency in a Healthcare Blockchain Application," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-20, August.
    8. Tracey L Weissgerber, 2021. "Training early career researchers to use meta-research to improve science: A participant-guided “learn by doing” approach," PLOS Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(2), pages 1-5, February.
    9. Marten Postma & Joachim Goedhart, 2019. "PlotsOfData—A web app for visualizing data together with their summaries," PLOS Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(3), pages 1-8, March.
    10. Wagenmakers, Eric-Jan & Sarafoglou, Alexandra & Aarts, Sil Dr. & Albers, Casper J & Algermissen, Johannes & Bahník, Štěpán & van Dongen, Noah N'Djaye Nikolai & Hoekstra, Rink & Moreau, David & van Rav, 2021. "Toward More Transparency in Statistical Practice," MetaArXiv t93cg, Center for Open Science.
    11. Opiła Janusz, 2019. "Role of Visualization in a Knowledge Transfer Process," Business Systems Research, Sciendo, vol. 10(1), pages 164-179, April.
    12. Tracey L Weissgerber & Vesna D Garovic & Marko Savic & Stacey J Winham & Natasa M Milic, 2016. "From Static to Interactive: Transforming Data Visualization to Improve Transparency," PLOS Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(6), pages 1-8, June.
    13. Tracey L Weissgerber & Vesna D Garovic & Jelena S Milin-Lazovic & Stacey J Winham & Zoran Obradovic & Jerome P Trzeciakowski & Natasa M Milic, 2016. "Reinventing Biostatistics Education for Basic Scientists," PLOS Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(4), pages 1-12, April.
    14. Natasa Milic & Srdjan Masic & Vesna Bjegovic-Mikanovic & Goran Trajkovic & Jelena Marinkovic & Jelena Milin-Lazovic & Zoran Bukumiric & Marko Savic & Andja Cirkovic & Milan Gajic & Dejana Stanisavljev, 2018. "Blended learning is an effective strategy for acquiring competence in public health biostatistics," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 63(3), pages 421-428, April.

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