Insightful Graphics Help Scientists Make New Discoveries And Explain Them To The Public
Finding the right graphical representation for data often plays a key role in science discovery. Friendly's focus will be the key role that insightful graphics have played in helping scientists both make new discoveries and explain them to the public.
The foundation of scientific graphics was laid in the early 19th century by statisticians like André Michel Guerry, who prepared the first ever comprehensive analysis of data on what were called "moral statistics" (crime and suicide rates, literacy, etc.). Many other scientists adopted and refined the use of visual displays, with one of the most famous examples being the work of John Snow, who proved the link between cholera and contaminated water by mapping cholera deaths in London in the 1860s. He traced the source of the disease to a single water pump on Broad Street, and with the removal of its handle, the outbreak stopped within a few days.
One hundred and fifty years later, the challenges of data analysis have become more complex, and researchers have come to rely on more sophisticated graphic models, such as multi-dimensional graphs. Dr. Friendly's own work is the development of graphical methods for categorical data (data that fall into a discrete set of categories, such as gender, marital status, etc.), and the history of statistical graphics.
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Article adapted by Start Sanatate from original press release.
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Michael Friendly
Department of Psychology
York University
Source: Doré Dunne
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council
Insightful graficã ajuta oamenii de stiinta face noi descoperiri ºi de a le explica publicului - Insightful Graphics Help Scientists Make New Discoveries And Explain Them To The Public - articole medicale engleza - startsanatate