MA304-7-SU-CO:
Data Visualisation
2024/25
Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science (School of)
Colchester Campus
Summer
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Tuesday 22 April 2025
Friday 27 June 2025
15
09 May 2024
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
MSC G305JS Applied Data Science,
MSC G306JS Data Science and its Applications
In a world increasingly driven by data, the need for analysis and visualisation is more important than ever. In this course we will look at data through the eyes of a visual detective.
We will work on the lost art of exploratory data analysis, reviewing appropriate methods for data summaries with the aim to summarise, understand, extract hidden patterns and identify relationships. We will then work on graphical data analysis, using simple graphs to understand the data, but also advanced complex methods to scrutinise data and interactive plots to communicate data information to a wider audience. We will also explore the use of visualizations linked to textual analysis.
The aims of this module are:
- to create data analysts that can identify patterns and display information from data of several sources.
- to encourage statistical thinking by a series of examples of good and not-so-good visualisations
- to guide students to develop their creativity within a scientific framework.
- To highlight how visualization plays a key role in many disciplines.
By the end of the module, students will be expected to:
- Summarise and understand information on text, categorical and continuous variables
- Display graphical information and complex relationships in datasets using R
- Use advanced statistical packages like ggplot2 and produce statistical reports with Rmarkdown
- Create interactive plots
Indicative syllabus
Historical examples of visualization
Cognition linked to visualization including linguistics, mathematics, natural sciences, art and wider cultural topics.
Data Visualization for Human Perception
What makes a good graph – What makes a bad graph
Examining variables and basic R charts
Exploring relationships, looking for structure
Advanced plots with ggplot2
Creating statistical reports with Rmarkdown
Interactive graphs
Testing data quality through graphs
Plotting Maps
Text, Sentiment and Natural Language visualization
Data visualization within industry
Telling a story
Teaching in the School will be delivered using a range of face-to-face lectures, classes, and lab sessions as appropriate for each module. Modules may also include online only sessions where it is advantageous, for example for pedagogical reasons, to do so.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Assignment |
|
|
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Rishideep Roy, email: rishideep.roy@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Rishideep Roy; Dr Na You
rishideep.roy@essex.ac.uk
No
No
No
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.
* Please note: due to differing publication schedules, items marked with an asterisk (*) base their information upon the previous academic year.
Disclaimer: The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its Module Directory is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can
be necessary to make changes, for example to programmes, modules, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include a change of law or regulatory requirements,
industrial action, lack of demand, departure of key personnel, change in government policy, or withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to modules may for example consist
of variations to the content and method of delivery or assessment of modules and other services, to discontinue modules and other services and to merge or combine modules.
The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications and module directory.
The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.