Effective Graphical Representation of Institutional Research Data Presentation

Effective Graphical Representation of Institutional Research Data Presentation 571 Air 2004 Forum David R. González-Barreto Antonio A. González Quevedo University of Puerto Rico - Mayagüez June 2 nd, 2004 The Information Revolution: Bridging the Past to the Future Air 2004 Forum

“Modern data graphics can do much more than simply substitute for small statistical tables. At their best, graphics are instruments for reasoning about quantitative information. Often the most effective ways to describe, explore, and summarize a set of numbers – even a very large set – is to look at pictures of those numbers. Furthermore, of all methods for analyzing and communicating statistical information, well-designed data graphics are usually the simplest and at the same time the most powerful. ” Edward R. Tufte The Visual Display of Quantitative Information 1983 Graphics Press June 2 nd, 2004 The Information Revolution: Bridging the Past to the Future Air 2004 Forum 22

“To envision information – and what bright and splendid visions can result – is to work at the intersection of image, word, number, art. The instruments are those of writing and typography, of managing large data sets and statistical analysis, of line and layout and color. And the standards of quality are those derived from visual principles that tell us how to put the right mark in the right place. ” Edward R. Tufte Envisioning Information 1990 Graphics Press June 2 nd, 2004 The Information Revolution: Bridging the Past to the Future Air 2004 Forum 33

Outline • • Motivation Objectives Description of Case Study Graphical representation of Data – Statistical / Graphical Software – Data Branching – Different ways to represent the information • Conclusions and Recommendations June 2 nd, 2004 The Information Revolution: Bridging the Past to the Future Air 2004 Forum 44

Motivation • The large amount of information obtained from Institutional Research studies can be effectively represented by graphical means. • Modern graphic methods provide powerful tools to represent different variables in one graph, or a combination of graphs that convey a clear message. • Tabular forms are limited in the information that they can convey. June 2 nd, 2004 The Information Revolution: Bridging the Past to the Future Air 2004 Forum 55

Objectives • To demonstrate the limited capacity of tabular representation of data when compared to graphical means. • To show graphical capabilities of statistical/ graphical software. • Use of a Case Study to illustrate the previous objectives. June 2 nd, 2004 The Information Revolution: Bridging the Past to the Future Air 2004 Forum 66

Description of Case Study • Based on the 28, 382 students who entered our institution from 1990 -2002. • Analyze student data based on the scores of the entrance examination, high school grade point average, gender, public or private high school, and geographical location of high school. • Puerto Rico is divided into eight senatorial districts. These divisions are used to analyze the student data per geographical location. June 2 nd, 2004 The Information Revolution: Bridging the Past to the Future Air 2004 Forum 77

Case Study Definitions • IGS = Entrance Index is composed of the high school GPA and math and verbal aptitude of the college entrance examination (CEEB). • High School GPA is based on a 4. 0 scale. • Math and Verbal Aptitude scores have a maximum score of 800 points. June 2 nd, 2004 The Information Revolution: Bridging the Past to the Future Air 2004 Forum 88

IGS Definition • IGS Formula Prior to 1995 Each of the three components, GPA, Math and Verbal Aptitude, had a weight of 1/3 • IGS Formula Since 1995 GPA has a weight of 50% and Math and Verbal Aptitude, each has a weight of 25% June 2 nd, 2004 The Information Revolution: Bridging the Past to the Future Air 2004 Forum 99

Case Study – Student Data • • • • June 2 nd, 2004 IGS GPA Math Aptitude Verbal Aptitude Senatorial District High School Name College Department Private or Public Gender Town Record Number Entrance Year The Information Revolution: Bridging the Past to the Future Air 2004 Forum 10 10

Statistical/Graphical Software • • June 2 nd, 2004 Minitab S-Plus JMP Excel The Information Revolution: Bridging the Past to the Future Air 2004 Forum 11 11

Data Branching Level 1 IGS Male Female Public Private Public Level 4 Level 5 June 2 nd, 2004 San Juan Mayagüez Arecibo Level 2 Level 3 Private Bayamón Carolina Humacao Ponce GPA Math Apt. Verbal Apt. The Information Revolution: Bridging the Past to the Future Air 2004 Forum 12 12

IGS Data Branching Graph – Level 1 Data Branching June 2 nd, 2004 The Information Revolution: Bridging the Past to the Future Air 2004 Forum 13 13

IGS Data Branching Graph – Level 2 Data Branching June 2 nd, 2004 The Information Revolution: Bridging the Past to the Future Air 2004 Forum 14 14

IGS Data Branching Graph – Level 3 Data Branching June 2 nd, 2004 The Information Revolution: Bridging the Past to the Future Air 2004 Forum 15 15

IGS Data Branching Graph – Level 4 Data Branching June 2 nd, 2004 The Information Revolution: Bridging the Past to the Future Air 2004 Forum 16 16

IGS Data Branching Graph – Level 5 June 2 nd, 2004 The Information Revolution: Bridging the Past to the Future Air 2004 Forum 17 17

Longitudinal Data Branching Time June 2 nd, 2004 GPA Number of Students Admitted Verbal Apt. Math Apt. IGS Public Private Public Private The Information Revolution: Bridging the Past to the Future Air 2004 Forum 18 18

Number of Students Admitted per Year Data Branching June 2 nd, 2004 The Information Revolution: Bridging the Past to the Future Air 2004 Forum 19 19

Number of Students Admitted Public or Private Data Branching June 2 nd, 2004 The Information Revolution: Bridging the Past to the Future Air 2004 Forum 20 20

GPA Public or Private Data Branching June 2 nd, 2004 The Information Revolution: Bridging the Past to the Future Air 2004 Forum 21 21

Math. Apt. Public or Private Data Branching June 2 nd, 2004 The Information Revolution: Bridging the Past to the Future Air 2004 Forum 22 22

Verbal Apt. Public or Private Data Branching June 2 nd, 2004 The Information Revolution: Bridging the Past to the Future Air 2004 Forum 23 23

IGS per Year Data Branching June 2 nd, 2004 The Information Revolution: Bridging the Past to the Future Air 2004 Forum 24 24

IGS Public or Private June 2 nd, 2004 The Information Revolution: Bridging the Past to the Future Air 2004 Forum 25 25

Examples of Different Types of Graphs June 2 nd, 2004 The Information Revolution: Bridging the Past to the Future Air 2004 Forum 26 26

Examples of Different Types of Graphs June 2 nd, 2004 The Information Revolution: Bridging the Past to the Future Air 2004 Forum 27 27

Examples of Different Types of Graphs June 2 nd, 2004 The Information Revolution: Bridging the Past to the Future Air 2004 Forum 28 28

Examples of Different Types of Graphs June 2 nd, 2004 The Information Revolution: Bridging the Past to the Future Air 2004 Forum 29 29

Examples of Different Types of Graphs June 2 nd, 2004 The Information Revolution: Bridging the Past to the Future Air 2004 Forum 30 30

Examples of Different Types of Graphs June 2 nd, 2004 The Information Revolution: Bridging the Past to the Future Air 2004 Forum 31 31

Examples of Different Types of Graphs June 2 nd, 2004 The Information Revolution: Bridging the Past to the Future Air 2004 Forum 32 32

Conclusions and Recommendations • Knowledge of multiple statistical/graphical software provides the institutional researcher with a gamut of tools to convey large amounts of data effectively. • Modern software provides capabilities to visualize relationships among variables. It also allows for data branching and different ways of representing the data. • Tabular representation of data is very limited. June 2 nd, 2004 The Information Revolution: Bridging the Past to the Future Air 2004 Forum 33 33

Acknowledgement • Leo Vélez • Irmannette Torres • Please see our website at http: //oiip. uprm. edu June 2 nd, 2004 The Information Revolution: Bridging the Past to the Future Air 2004 Forum 34 34