The uses of graphics

There are primary uses of statistical graphics for reporting our data.

1. As a report or summary of the “raw” data.
2. As a visualization of the results of a statistical model, supplementing a model summary table.
   • Supplementing a table of coefficients.
   • Contextualizing the results.
3. As the only viable report of the model.
   • When there are too many parameters, or they’re too uninterpretable for any other kind of report. (e.g. gams)

Graphs Matter

For many readers (and the field), what is communicated in graphs will endure in their memory and understading of your work longer than what is written in the text.

Pitfalls and Open Questions

Pitfalls

• There is often insufficient detail in the description of figures to sufficiently understand what is being plotted.
• Care must be taken in making inferences based on figures.

Open Questions

• How “raw” should the raw data in a summary plot be?
• What is the appropriate trade-off between visual legibility and rigor?

The Importance of Plotting