Interactive Visualization - Defining and using the ASSERT model

Hello all!

Welcome back!  This week I will be writing about the first couple chapters of Bill Ferster’s book, Interactive Visualization (2013). A simplistic way of explaining what information visualization is, is something you look at that provides information about a topic. A photo, a pamphlet, a poster, a web page, anything that can organize data and relay it in a meaningful way. One example Ferster used was of John Snow’s 1854 map of cholera in London. Snow was able to plot the cholera related deaths on a map to illustrate that the outbreak was due to water contamination from a specific water source rather than being an airborne issue as people initially believed.

Using visualizations to understand data may not always provide a full story, but it provides an accessible way to start. The addition of computers to help with visualizations allow for a more in-depth approach for the audience to understand and work with the data. The author states that good visualizations are driven by good questions (Ferster 2013: 45).

But how does one begin?

After reviewing different methods of creating and evaluating visualizations, Bill Ferster introduces the ASSERT model to help create visualizations that are engaging, educational, and help build onto research of the historical and social sciences. The acronym stands for ASK a question, SEARCH for evidence to answer the question, STRUCTURE that information to answer the question, ENVISION ways to answer the question using the data, REPRESENT the data in a compelling visualization, and TELL a meaningful story using the evidence to answer the question.

He first discusses how to write a question that is narrow enough in scope, but also meaningful. A question should be stated in MORE than four or five words. This will help to narrow the question. A question in fewer words is likely too broad. A question should also require more of an answer than a simple yes or no. Ferster suggested using a three-part approach to construct a research question. This includes identifying a focused topic, what questions are needed to explore the topic, and why should someone care about exploring the topic.

Ferster then discusses searching for information. He states that “when evidence is understood in relation to a specific inquiry, the data moves from evidence of something to evidence for something.” (Ferster 2013:66). There are lots of sources for information. Sources come three forms: primary (created at the time), secondary (generally created after the fact), or tertiary (a source that draws on primary and secondary sources – like an encyclopedia or almanac, etc.). Information gathered from these sources provide the data for the visualization.

So, based on just these two chapters, how might this inform my own project?

Well, as I have mentioned in a prior posting, I am an anthropologist. As my blog title may suggest, I study migration through isotope analysis. I use geochemical information gathered from mostly human (and some animal) skeletal remains to answer questions surrounding diet and mobility in the past. So, a basic general question might be something like, were people from this particular cemetery immigrants? This unfortunately results in a yes or no type of response. So, I could adjust it to something like: What were likely routes that migrants used to travel to this location before they died? This is a focused question as it cannot be answered with a simple yes or no. To explore the topic, I would need to map the isotopic values to the landscape to provide an estimate of region of origin for the individuals. Then I would research known roads and trade routes during the period. Why would someone care about this question? For this example, the interest could come from wanting to learn about where the city’s founding settlers came from and how they got there. For this particular question, I do have accessible and reliable information to answer the question.

Since this is just a summary and reflection of Bill Ferster’s first two chapters focusing on the A-S portion of the ASSERT model, stay tuned in upcoming weeks for the remaining portions to see how I work on this question using his model.  

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed your visit!

-The Medieval Isotopist

Question for Bill

1. How do you choose the best visualization method for your project?

2. What have you found to be the best methods for sharing your visualization projects?