Data Visualization Selector

When to Use

The user has quantitative data and needs to present it visually in a research paper, report, thesis, or presentation. Typical triggers:

• User has a dataset and asks "should I use a table or a chart?"
• User shares an existing graphic and asks why it looks confusing or amateurish
• User asks how to title, label, or introduce a graphic
• An advisor or reviewer said a figure was misleading, hard to read, or poorly framed
• User has multiple data points they are struggling to fit into prose
• User suspects their chart may be exaggerating or misrepresenting their findings

Scope: This skill covers the selection, design, and ethical framing of tables, bar charts, and line graphs — the three graphic types essential for basic quantitative research. For scatter plots, heat maps, box plots, or advanced statistical graphics, use this skill's decision logic as a foundation and consult field-specific visualization resources.

Do not use this skill to select graphics for decorative purposes. Every graphic must directly support a specific argument or claim.

Context