Comments on: The Visual Display of Quantitative Information http://crookedtimber.org/2004/11/07/the-visual-display-of-quantitative-information/ Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:13:00 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Anthony Robinson http://crookedtimber.org/2004/11/07/the-visual-display-of-quantitative-information/comment-page-1/#comment-39919 Anthony Robinson Thu, 11 Nov 2004 13:24:12 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2079#comment-39919 If you'd like to look at election data against a wide range of other socioeconomic and even environmental data, check out the tools and data I've made available here: http://www.personal.psu.edu/acr181/election.html No cartograms at the moment, but we do provide a fully interactive visualization environment that you won't see elsewhere. Also, I have a link to the database I created, so you can check it out and use it yourself. If you’d like to look at election data against a wide range of other socioeconomic and even environmental data, check out the tools and data I’ve made available here: http://www.personal.psu.edu/acr181/election.html No cartograms at the moment, but we do provide a fully interactive visualization environment that you won’t see elsewhere. Also, I have a link to the database I created, so you can check it out and use it yourself.

]]> By: lth http://crookedtimber.org/2004/11/07/the-visual-display-of-quantitative-information/comment-page-1/#comment-39918 lth Wed, 10 Nov 2004 10:47:45 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2079#comment-39918 Here's a bright idea... why doesn't every person in the US have one vote with which they can vote for a single presidential candidate? Thus neatly eliminating the electoral college system, and giving everyone equal say. This has the handy side effect of the person winning most of the votes being the person who actually gets elected... Here’s a bright idea… why doesn’t every person in the US have one vote with which they can vote for a single presidential candidate? Thus neatly eliminating the electoral college system, and giving everyone equal say. This has the handy side effect of the person winning most of the votes being the person who actually gets elected…

]]> By: anon http://crookedtimber.org/2004/11/07/the-visual-display-of-quantitative-information/comment-page-1/#comment-39917 anon Tue, 09 Nov 2004 18:15:10 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2079#comment-39917 <p>Here’s a list of states listed with the percentage of graduate degree holders, color coded to show which candidate they voted for in the 2004 elections.</p> <p>The list is from: http://channels.netscape.com/ns/homerealestate/package.jsp?name=fte/smartestpeople/smartestpeople&floc=wn-np<br /> Election results were from: http://news.yahoo.com/electionresults</p> <p> 1. Washington, D.C.: 23.6 percent (Kerry)<br /> 2. Massachusetts: 14.5 percent (Kerry)<br /> 3. Maryland: 14.1 percent (Kerry)<br /> 4. Connecticut: 13.7 percent (Kerry)<br /> 5. Virginia: 12.9 percent (Bush)<br /> 6. New York: 12.6 percent (Kerry)<br /> 7. Vermont: 12.3 percent<br /> 8. Colorado: 11.5 percent (Bush)<br /> 8. New Jersey: 11.5 percent (Kerry)<br /> 10. New Mexico: 11.0 percent (Bush)<br /> 11. Illinois: 10.6 percent (Kerry)<br /> 12. New Hampshire: 10.5 percent (Kerry)<br /> 13. Washington: 10.1 percent (Kerry)<br /> 13. California: 10.1 percent (Kerry)<br /> 15. Rhode Island: 9.9 percent (Kerry)<br /> 16. Alaska: 9.8 percent (Bush)<br /> 17. Oregon: 9.5 percent (Kerry)<br /> 18. Minnesota: 9.3 percent (Kerry)<br /> 19. Delaware: 9.2 percent (Kerry)<br /> 20. Kansas: 8.9 percent (Bush)<br /> 20: Missouri: 8.9 percent (Bush)<br /> 20. Pennsylvania: 8.9 percent (Kerry)<br /> 23. Hawaii: 8.8 percent (Kerry)<br /> 24. Florida: 8.5 percent (Bush)<br /> 25. Michigan: 8.3 percent (Kerry)<br /> 26. Arizona: 8.2 percent (Bush)<br /> 27. Texas: 8.0 percent (Bush)<br /> 28. Georgia: 7.9 percent (Bush)<br /> 28. Utah: 7.9 percent (Bush)<br /> 30. Maine: 7.8 percent (Kerry)<br /> 31. North Carolina: 7.7 percent (Bush)<br /> 31. South Carolina: 7.7 percent (Bush)<br /> 31. Indiana: 7.7 percent (Bush)<br /> 34. Ohio: 7.6 percent (Bush)<br /> 35. Montana: 7.5 percent (Bush)<br /> 35. Kentucky: 7.5 percent (Bush)<br /> 35. Alabama: 7.5 percent (Bush)<br /> 38. Nebraska: 7.4 percent (Bush)<br /> 39. Wisconsin: 7.2 percent (Kerry)<br /> 39. Wyoming: 7.2 percent (Bush)<br /> 41: Idaho: 7.1 percent (Bush)<br /> 42. Tennessee: 7.1 percent (Bush)<br /> 43. Louisiana: 6.7 percent (Bush)<br /> 43. North Dakota: 6.7 percent (Bush)<br /> 45. West Virginia: 6.6 percent (Bush)<br /> 46. Oklahoma: 6.5 percent (Bush)<br /> 46. Arkansas: 6.5 percent (Bush)<br /> 48. Iowa: 6.3 percent (Bush)<br /> 49. South Dakota: 6.1 percent (Bush)<br /> 50. Nevada: 5.9 percent (Bush)<br /> 51: Mississippi: 5.8 percent (Bush)</p>

Here’s a list of states listed with the percentage of graduate degree holders, color coded to show which candidate they voted for in the 2004 elections.

The list is from: http://channels.netscape.com/ns/homerealestate/package.jsp?name=fte/smartestpeople/smartestpeople&floc=wn-np
Election results were from: http://news.yahoo.com/electionresults

1. Washington, D.C.: 23.6 percent (Kerry)
2. Massachusetts: 14.5 percent (Kerry)
3. Maryland: 14.1 percent (Kerry)
4. Connecticut: 13.7 percent (Kerry)
5. Virginia: 12.9 percent (Bush)
6. New York: 12.6 percent (Kerry)
7. Vermont: 12.3 percent
8. Colorado: 11.5 percent (Bush)
8. New Jersey: 11.5 percent (Kerry)
10. New Mexico: 11.0 percent (Bush)
11. Illinois: 10.6 percent (Kerry)
12. New Hampshire: 10.5 percent (Kerry)
13. Washington: 10.1 percent (Kerry)
13. California: 10.1 percent (Kerry)
15. Rhode Island: 9.9 percent (Kerry)
16. Alaska: 9.8 percent (Bush)
17. Oregon: 9.5 percent (Kerry)
18. Minnesota: 9.3 percent (Kerry)
19. Delaware: 9.2 percent (Kerry)
20. Kansas: 8.9 percent (Bush)
20: Missouri: 8.9 percent (Bush)
20. Pennsylvania: 8.9 percent (Kerry)
23. Hawaii: 8.8 percent (Kerry)
24. Florida: 8.5 percent (Bush)
25. Michigan: 8.3 percent (Kerry)
26. Arizona: 8.2 percent (Bush)
27. Texas: 8.0 percent (Bush)
28. Georgia: 7.9 percent (Bush)
28. Utah: 7.9 percent (Bush)
30. Maine: 7.8 percent (Kerry)
31. North Carolina: 7.7 percent (Bush)
31. South Carolina: 7.7 percent (Bush)
31. Indiana: 7.7 percent (Bush)
34. Ohio: 7.6 percent (Bush)
35. Montana: 7.5 percent (Bush)
35. Kentucky: 7.5 percent (Bush)
35. Alabama: 7.5 percent (Bush)
38. Nebraska: 7.4 percent (Bush)
39. Wisconsin: 7.2 percent (Kerry)
39. Wyoming: 7.2 percent (Bush)
41: Idaho: 7.1 percent (Bush)
42. Tennessee: 7.1 percent (Bush)
43. Louisiana: 6.7 percent (Bush)
43. North Dakota: 6.7 percent (Bush)
45. West Virginia: 6.6 percent (Bush)
46. Oklahoma: 6.5 percent (Bush)
46. Arkansas: 6.5 percent (Bush)
48. Iowa: 6.3 percent (Bush)
49. South Dakota: 6.1 percent (Bush)
50. Nevada: 5.9 percent (Bush)
51: Mississippi: 5.8 percent (Bush)

]]> By: Brett Bellmore http://crookedtimber.org/2004/11/07/the-visual-display-of-quantitative-information/comment-page-1/#comment-39916 Brett Bellmore Tue, 09 Nov 2004 03:04:56 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2079#comment-39916 I would assume, using the composition of the House and Senate as a proxy, that distributing electoral college votes in that manner, (Not a bad idea, IMO, so long as it were adopted by amendment to avoid coordination problems.) Bush would still have won, perhaps by a somewhat larger margin. Winning by huge margins in urban areas may be impressive as heck, but it seriously hurts your representation in the House. I would assume, using the composition of the House and Senate as a proxy, that distributing electoral college votes in that manner, (Not a bad idea, IMO, so long as it were adopted by amendment to avoid coordination problems.) Bush would still have won, perhaps by a somewhat larger margin. Winning by huge margins in urban areas may be impressive as heck, but it seriously hurts your representation in the House.

]]> By: JD http://crookedtimber.org/2004/11/07/the-visual-display-of-quantitative-information/comment-page-1/#comment-39915 JD Mon, 08 Nov 2004 16:31:05 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2079#comment-39915 Since we are actually a Representative Republic using the Electoral College as our method for determining the Executive, shouldn't we use congressional and senatorial districts as our allocation method, not states or counties? Actually I suppose the top map is the best since most states use the "winner-take-all" method for counting electors. But the districting method would be interesting to see. Since we are actually a Representative Republic using the Electoral College as our method for determining the Executive, shouldn’t we use congressional and senatorial districts as our allocation method, not states or counties? Actually I suppose the top map is the best since most states use the “winner-take-all” method for counting electors. But the districting method would be interesting to see.

]]> By: John Faughnan http://crookedtimber.org/2004/11/07/the-visual-display-of-quantitative-information/comment-page-1/#comment-39914 John Faughnan Mon, 08 Nov 2004 03:09:25 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2079#comment-39914 How about a representation that adjusts for wealth? I'd be curious to know the relative percent of GNP produced by red vs. blue states. Handy in case states' rights catches on. How about a representation that adjusts for wealth? I’d be curious to know the relative percent of GNP produced by red vs. blue states. Handy in case states’ rights catches on.

]]> By: katherine http://crookedtimber.org/2004/11/07/the-visual-display-of-quantitative-information/comment-page-1/#comment-39913 katherine Mon, 08 Nov 2004 02:48:41 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2079#comment-39913 is there really so much more red than blue? I think there may be an optical illusion because the red (almost) all connects up and the blue doesn't. is there really so much more red than blue? I think there may be an optical illusion because the red (almost) all connects up and the blue doesn’t.

]]> By: Ethesis http://crookedtimber.org/2004/11/07/the-visual-display-of-quantitative-information/comment-page-1/#comment-39912 Ethesis Sun, 07 Nov 2004 23:35:13 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2079#comment-39912 Pretty work, though a Blue-Yellow or Red-Green color pattern would give a better visual result in terms of accuracy (red-blue creates artificial boundry impressions). Still, Red-Blue is very pretty. Pretty work, though a Blue-Yellow or Red-Green color pattern would give a better visual result in terms of accuracy (red-blue creates artificial boundry impressions). Still, Red-Blue is very pretty.

]]> By: Felix http://crookedtimber.org/2004/11/07/the-visual-display-of-quantitative-information/comment-page-1/#comment-39911 Felix Sun, 07 Nov 2004 23:18:07 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2079#comment-39911 my guess at the moment is his program turned 'no votes' (0/0) into '100% for Kerry', and he fetched the data when lots of counties hadn't reported in yet. I just fetched and parsed the data myself from USA Today. there are 3 counties/districts more than 90% for Kerry, 1 with no report yet, 5 reporting no votes (small townships in Maine), and 10 more than 90% for Bush. my guess at the moment is his program turned ‘no votes’ (0/0) into ‘100% for Kerry’, and he fetched the data when lots of counties hadn’t reported in yet. I just fetched and parsed the data myself from USA Today. there are 3 counties/districts more than 90% for Kerry, 1 with no report yet, 5 reporting no votes (small townships in Maine), and 10 more than 90% for Bush.

]]> By: fleacircus http://crookedtimber.org/2004/11/07/the-visual-display-of-quantitative-information/comment-page-1/#comment-39910 fleacircus Sun, 07 Nov 2004 20:10:32 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2079#comment-39910 Links are down, but people are trying to draw the conclusion that it's the <i>Democrats</i> who are insular and xenophobic? People from the hinterlands lecturing the city dwellers about cultural and political diversity? Please. No matter how many votes you get or how much data you skew, up is not down. Links are down, but people are trying to draw the conclusion that it’s the Democrats who are insular and xenophobic? People from the hinterlands lecturing the city dwellers about cultural and political diversity? Please. No matter how many votes you get or how much data you skew, up is not down.

]]> By: fleacircus http://crookedtimber.org/2004/11/07/the-visual-display-of-quantitative-information/comment-page-1/#comment-39909 fleacircus Sun, 07 Nov 2004 20:08:54 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2079#comment-39909 Links are down, but people are trying to draw the conclusion that it's the <i>Democrats</i> who are insular and xenophobic? People from the hinterlands lecturing the city dwellers about cultural and political diversity? Please. No matter how many votes you get or how much data you skew, up is not down. Links are down, but people are trying to draw the conclusion that it’s the Democrats who are insular and xenophobic? People from the hinterlands lecturing the city dwellers about cultural and political diversity? Please. No matter how many votes you get or how much data you skew, up is not down.

]]> By: Cosma http://crookedtimber.org/2004/11/07/the-visual-display-of-quantitative-information/comment-page-1/#comment-39908 Cosma Sun, 07 Nov 2004 19:43:44 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2079#comment-39908 Since the 307 county bit met with such skepticism, we rechecked it. Unfortunately, it was due to a bug in one of our programs. (It got confused by county names with spaces in them.) I've updated my post to reflect this. The maps were produced by a separate program, not subject to that bug, and those results are right (so far as we can tell). Anyone who wants the data, please get in touch. Since the 307 county bit met with such skepticism, we rechecked it. Unfortunately, it was due to a bug in one of our programs. (It got confused by county names with spaces in them.) I’ve updated my post to reflect this. The maps were produced by a separate program, not subject to that bug, and those results are right (so far as we can tell). Anyone who wants the data, please get in touch.

]]> By: harry http://crookedtimber.org/2004/11/07/the-visual-display-of-quantitative-information/comment-page-1/#comment-39907 harry Sun, 07 Nov 2004 19:31:46 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2079#comment-39907 Surely Katherine is right and we're talking about overwhelmingly black counties. Surely Katherine is right and we’re talking about overwhelmingly black counties.

]]> By: eudoxis http://crookedtimber.org/2004/11/07/the-visual-display-of-quantitative-information/comment-page-1/#comment-39906 eudoxis Sun, 07 Nov 2004 19:02:41 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2079#comment-39906 The shape of the cartogram is fine, but the colors, if they are using the same source data is are wrong. Besides, it's a small, small world. Everybody knows a republican. The bar chart and the explanation (decided and divided) must be a joke. The shape of the cartogram is fine, but the colors, if they are using the same source data is are wrong. Besides, it’s a small, small world. Everybody knows a republican. The bar chart and the explanation (decided and divided) must be a joke.

]]> By: dsquared http://crookedtimber.org/2004/11/07/the-visual-display-of-quantitative-information/comment-page-1/#comment-39905 dsquared Sun, 07 Nov 2004 18:46:58 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2079#comment-39905 This would look so much better if it was done in Excel :-) This would look so much better if it was done in Excel :-)

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