Postgraduate Module Descriptor

SOCM029: Data Visualisation

This module descriptor refers to the 2019/0 academic year.

Module Aims

The main aims of the module are:

  • To understand and apply principles of data visualization
  • To develop skills in capturing and managing data for visualisation
  • To analyze subject relevant data sets using data visualisation techniques
  • To learn to quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate existing visualizations
  • To further develop skills in using the ggplot2 package for R and related packages for data visualisation.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here - you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills1. Demonstrate proficiency in the use of R for data visualisation
2. understand code in R and implement appropriate commands to perform relevant analyses
3. Understand principles of and appropriate use of data visualization to communicate data analysis.
Discipline-Specific Skills4. Develop coding skills in a way that results in high level of synergies with quantitative research skills.
5. manipulate data in R and use the appropriate analytic tools.
6. interpret output from each program and draw appropriate inference regarding the hypotheses being tested.
Personal and Key Skills7. Demonstrate understanding of computing skills
8. Demonstrate understanding of data management skills

Indicative Reading List

This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.

Basic reading:

Hadley Wickham, ggplo2. Elegant Graphics for Data Analysis. 2nd ed. Springer, 2015.

Winston Chang, R Graphics Cookbook. O’Reilly, 2013.

John Chambers, William Cleveland, Beat Kleiner and Paul Tukey, Graphical Methods for Data Analysis. Wadsworth, 1983.

Edward Tufte. The Visual Display of Quantitative Information. Graphics Press, 2001.

Leland Wilkinson, The Grammar of Graphics. 2nd ed. Springer, 2005.

Tamassia, Roberto, ed. Handbook of graph drawing and visualization. CRC press, 2013.