ERIC Number: EJ1479555
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Sep
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1098-2140
EISSN: EISSN-1557-0878
Available Date: 0000-00-00
Data Visualization Expert Lessons Learned: Implications for Program Evaluators
Sarah Douville1; Piper T. Grandjean Targos1; Natalie D. Jones1; Ciara Knight1; Tarek Azzam2
American Journal of Evaluation, v46 n3 p365-380 2025
This qualitative study explores the lessons learned from experts who use data visualization in evaluation. Findings suggest that collaborative communication with stakeholders--such as identifying needs, managing expectations, and determining the story to tell--is important before initiating the visualization process. Additionally, evaluators are advised to consider audience culture(s), varying levels of visual literacy (visualcy), and accessibility requirements. Experts emphasized the importance of mastering core principles of data visualization over mastery of specific software and argued that no software tool is best for every visualization. Experts also noted that data visualization can facilitate stakeholder understanding by distilling complex information and telling a data-driven story about programs and policies. By applying these lessons, evaluators can enhance their ability to create data visualizations that are technically sound and tailored to audience needs and ability, ultimately improving communication and supporting informed decision-making.
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, CA, USA; 2University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA

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