A Design Problem

This table reports the results of a 2004 study conducted by the Pew Center, which I found on the web site of PBS, in the section that features the television program NOW.

[Scroll down to see our solution to this graph's design problems.]
Design Example #8 Problem

My Analysis

Here's a case where a graph could tell the story much more clearly than a table. Notice how much of this table's content is dedicated to repetitive text. This just clutters the display and forces the reader to wade through unnecessary information. This is really important information. I appreciate the work of the Pew Center and NOW, so I would like to help them communicate it clearly as possible.

A Solution

The series of graphs below makes it easy to see the attitudes in various countries toward the USA.

  • By ranking the countries by the percentage of favorable opinions, we can spot patterns that would be difficult to spot otherwise.
  • By adding the "Undecided or Neutral" category, we have exposed interesting data, like the fact that no one surveyed in Jordan is on the fence about America, and that Eqypt, the country with the fewest people who feel favorably towards America is also the country with the most undecided or neutral respondents. Hmm...
Design Example #8 Solution
[Click graph to enlarge]

This information is ideally suited to visual display.