【INF4000】Data Visualisation

1. General information

The assessment of the module tests not only your ability to create informative visualisation but also the knowledge you have gained throughout the semester on important visualisation topics and how much you have engaged with the visualisation literature. The assessment will consist of a document (written in Word or similar document writing software) consisting of a composite visualisation and related reflections. The reflections need to be your individual take on the topics discussed in the seminars and lectures. Those reflections need to be put in a wider context using relevant literature sources. Keep in mind that visualisations that are not your work cannot be used in this assessment.

The assessment should be 3,000 word long , divided into five sections of approximate equal length.

This assessment will account for 100% of the mark of INF4000 Data visualisation. A mark of 50 is

required to pass the module. The deadline for the assessment is 18th January 2024 at 2:00pm via the Turnitin link found in the Blackboard page of module INF4000 Data visualisation.

2. Report format

In the report, you will include the composite visualisation right after the cover page, followed by five sections.

• The cover page should contain module code (i.e., INF4000), word count, your registration

number and your topic.

• The composite visualisation should contain at least 4 charts, which belong to the same topic

and contribute extra information that you want to communicate.

• The five sections are (1) knowledge building, (2) theoretical frameworks, (3) accessibility, (4)

visualisation choice and (5) implications and improvements. The details of each section are

given below.

3. Dataset

You should only use secondary data and choose dataset(s) that can contribute to the topic you select.

The dataset should be fully anonymised and do not contain any personally identifiable information.

4. Sections of the report

You should consider all sections equally important and devote around 600 words to each section, for a total of 3,000 words. You need to cover:

• the entire composite visualisation in Section 1.

• Sections 2 – 5 should each mainly focus on a different chart in the composite visualisation. You

can choose which chart to discuss in which section, but you have to state it clearly in the

sections.

The five sections are:

1. Knowledge building – Describe how the visualisation provides new knowledge on a specific

topic. You will need to briefly explain the topic you want to address, and why it is important. In

addition, you should explain how you found the dataset(s), why you chose it (them) and

correctly reference the dataset(s). You will need to explain what the visualisation is showing

and what new knowledge it provides about the topic you chose. It might help to think about the

‘A’ in ASSERT and describe what question the visualisation is trying to answer. You should link

your discussion of the visualisation to literature sources that might concur or conflict with your

discussion.

Examples of what we will be looking for:

•

Clearly state the topic and explain why the topic is important

•

Explain how the dataset is found, why you chose it and correctly reference the dataset

•

Explain what the visualisation is showing and what new knowledge it provides about

the topic

•

Good literature sources

•

Sufficient discussion

2. Theoretical frameworks – Describe your visualisation and the way you created it using

theoretical frameworks. You will need to refer to both the ASSERT framework and the grammar

of graphics. You will need to explain how you followed each stage of the ASSERT framework

to create the visualisation. You will also need to explain the elements of your visualisation using

the grammar of graphics elements (e.g. geometries, aesthetics, coordinate systems).

Examples of what we will be looking for:

•

Clearly state the question to answer

•

Detailed description for six stages in the ASSERT framework

•

Discussion using grammar of graphics (multiple occasions)

•

Good literature sources

3. Accessibility – Describe what accessibility means in visualisation and whether the

visualisation you developed is accessible. You will need to explain how issues with accessibility

can make it impossible for certain people to properly analyse a visualisation. You will also need

to critique your visualisation with regards to accessibility, discussing whether it is accessible

and what design choices you made helped or hindered accessibility.

Examples of what we will be looking for:

•

Describe what accessibility means in visualisation

•

Discussion on whether the visualisation is accessible and what design choices you

made helped or hindered accessibility

•

Good literature sources

•

Sufficient discussion INF4000 Data Visualisation Coursework Brief

3

4. Visualisation choice – Describe and justify your choice of visualisation type based on the goal

of the visualisation. You will need to describe and justify why you chose the type of visualisation

and discuss at least two possible alternatives. You will need to emphasize both the positive and

negative aspects of each type of visualisation mentioned and show an awareness of when each

visualisation is appropriate based on the data shown and the goal of the visualisation. You can

refer to visualisation taxonomies to support your discussion.

Examples of what we will be looking for:

•

Justify why you chose the type of visualisation

•

Discuss possible alternatives (at least two)

•

Good literature sources

•

Sufficient discussion related to the goal of the visualisation

5. Implications and Improvements – Describe the ethical implications of using the visualisation

in the topic you identified. You will need to discuss how visualisations could be used to

(mis)inform the public, or arrive at (in)accurate conclusions. You could also discuss relevant

(preferably on your topic) examples where this has happened in the past, with links to the

literature. You will need to propose changes to justify how the visualisation could be improved.

You do not need to provide an improved visualisation, but should provide ideas on datasets,

visual design, accessibility.

Examples of what we will be looking for:

•

Discussion and reflection on visualisations in the topic you choose

•

References to examples or discussions (news, literature)

•

Propose improvements on the visualisation you created

Each section should demonstrate that you engaged with relevant literature. That means you are

expected to have citations to relevant articles in the literature of visualisation that support or provide

context to your reflections in each section. Each section of the assessment will be explained and

covered throughout the module in lectures and seminars. Engaging in these will help you produce a

good assessment.

5. Information School Coursework Submission

Requirements

Information School Student Handbook > PGT Assessment > Submitting your work

Last submission penalties: It is your responsibility to ensure your coursework is correctly submitted

before the deadline. It is highly recommended that you submit well before the deadline. Coursework

submitted after 2pm on the stated submission date will result in a deduction of 5% of the mark awarded

for each working day after the submission date/time up to a maximum of 5 working days, where ‘working

day’ includes Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) and runs from 2pm to 2pm. Coursework

submitted after the maximum period will receive zero marks. Work submitted electronically, including

through Turnitin, should be reviewed to ensure it appears as you intended.

Before the submission deadline, you can submit coursework to Turnitin numerous times. Each

submission will overwrite the previous submission. Only your most recent submission will be assessed.

However, after the submission deadline, the coursework can only be submitted once.

Word count penalties: Your assignment has a 3,000 word limit. A deduction of 3 marks will be applied

for coursework that is 10% or more above or below the word count as specified above or that does not

state the word count.

If you encounter any problems during the electronic submission of your coursework, you should

immediately contact the module coordinator and the Information School student support team (inf

student-support@sheffield.ac.uk). This does not negate your responsibilities to submit your coursework

on time and correctly.