Effective graphical displays

This 1.5-day workshop by Jean-luc Doumont and Geneviève Casterman (Principiae) focuses on how to represent quantitative data visually.

Although widely used to analyze data and to communicate about these data, graphical displays are still poorly mastered by researchers, who often use the wrong graphs or use them in the wrong way (and popular software does not exactly help). The current workshop intends to remedy these shortcomings.

Dr ir Doumont is an international expert on communication with extensive experience training researchers at universities across Europe, in North and South America, as well as in Asia.

Learning outcomes

After attending this training, participants will know ...

• how to keep graphs visual and truthful to the data,
• how to select the right graph for a given data set and a given message or research question,
• how to optimize the graph’s construction to reveal the data (not hide them),
• how to phrase a useful caption for a figure or title for a slide.

Training methods

Besides the conceptual discussion in plenary group of their own sample graphs, participants will have the chance to sharpen their skills on a homework with extensive feedback and a realistic case in subgroups. Ahead of time, participants must submit two sample graphs. After the first day, there is a homework assignment.

The program consists of three half days. To get a ‘pass’, participants must demonstrate regular attendance (no more than one absence, and not on the second half day), and must satisfactorily complete the assigned homework.

Participants who have already taken 'Fundamentals' as part of the workshop 'Effective scientific communication' need not take it again. Please contact the doctoral schools team in this case.

Competences

An important part of preparing for any further professional step is becoming (more) aware of the competences you have developed and/or want to develop. In the current workshop, the following competences from the UHasselt competency overview are actively dealt with:

• interpersonal competences:
  
  • presentation skills
  • written communication
• academic research competences:
  • data management
  • publication skills
• intellectual competences:
  • critical judgment
  • problem solving
    
    

For whom?

• PhD students

When and where?

• November 23, 2021, 9:00-17:00 & December 3, 2021, 9:00-12:30
• Participation on both days is required.
• campus Diepenbeek, building D, room A4

Registration?

• Registration is closed since October 22, 2021.
• As places are limited, registering does not automatically imply that you will be able to participate. You will be notified by email in due time.
• Please cancel your registration at least one week in advance in case you cannot make it (cf. cancellation & no-show policy).

Acknowledged as?

• DS BSH: category 'research management & communication skills' - workshop aimed at developing general research skills
• DS HLS: category 'transferable skills' - one compulsory elective course
• DS ST: category 'scientific & generic communication' - course on scientific and generic communication