Victoria Gladkiy

Communications Lead

Choosing the Right Data Visualization Tools for Your Research

Leading newspapers such as The New York Times and Al Jazeera employ some of the world's best talent for data communication. They create compelling digital products that captivate audiences by seamlessly integrating data with design.

What if every researcher had access to similarly powerful tools? What stories could be told? What novel datasets could be used to make better decisions?

Here's the problem: Researchers need to share their findings with different stakeholders in a way that captures attention and enhances understanding. However, traditional papers and reports often fall short in the attention economy. Engaging, interactive websites are essential for making data impactful but are often too expensive and complex.

This article will help researchers choose the most suitable data visualization platform for their unique needs, ensuring their data is not just seen but truly understood.

The Importance of Communicating Your Research

Maximizing the Impact of Your Research

By improving how you communicate your research, you can ensure that it not only gets published but also reaches and influences your intended audience, creating a meaningful impact.

Facilitating Collaboration

Clear and effective communication can facilitate collaboration across different fields of research, allowing researchers to understand and further develop each other's work. This collaboration can lead to the discovery of new insights and the development of innovative solutions.

Attracting Funding and Support

Articulating your research effectively can increase its likelihood of attracting funding and support from various stakeholders, institutions, and grant bodies. Through effective communication, you can emphasize the significance and potential impact of your work, making it more compelling to potential supporters.

Key Features to Look For

There are several tools on the market to assist with research communication. Here are some of the most important features for research communicators:

• Intuitive Interface: A user-friendly platform minimizes the learning curve, allowing researchers to quickly adapt and focus on their data rather than navigating complex tools. Look for intuitive interfaces that simplify data handling and enhance productivity.

• Customization and Flexibility: Every research project is unique, so having the ability to tailor data visualizations is essential. Choose a tool that offers customizable design options for charts, graphs, and dashboards, allowing you to present your data in ways that best suit your research objectives.

• Seamless Integration: Integration with other tools and data sources is crucial for a streamlined workflow. Opt for platforms that easily connect with your existing data systems, enabling efficient data management and enhancing the overall research process.

• Scalability for Growth: As research projects grow, so do data demands. Ensure that the platform you choose can scale to handle large datasets and accommodate the expanding needs of your research, providing a stable solution for the long term.

Interactive Tools for Research Communication

For researchers aiming to present complex findings in engaging ways, interactive tools offer an effective solution to bridge the gap between data and audience understanding. Below are some essential tools designed with researchers in mind:

Interactive Maps for In-Depth Geographic Analysis

Interactive maps allow researchers to visualize geographic data dynamically, enabling exploration through zooming, filtering, and clickable regions. Unlike static maps, these interactive versions help researchers and their audiences discover spatial patterns and relationships, making it easier to grasp the context of geographic insights. Datastory Maps, for example, allow researchers to represent findings with rich, layered maps, facilitating a clearer understanding of complex spatial data and enhancing research presentations.

Explore Datastory’s Interactive Maps ➔

Interactive Reports for Dynamic Data Presentation

Interactive reports transform static research documents into engaging, navigable experiences. Unlike traditional PDFs, which present fixed data, interactive reports empower researchers to let their audiences explore and interact with the findings directly. Readers can click, filter, and delve into charts, maps, and datasets, leading to a deeper and more personal understanding of the research. This format makes research insights accessible, actionable, and more meaningful for decision-makers and other researchers alike.

Explore Datastory’s Interactive Reports ➔

Rankings and Indices for Comparative Analysis

Rankings and indices organize intricate data into clear, structured comparisons that help researchers track and analyze variables over time or across categories. By grouping data around specific criteria—such as environmental impact, social factors, or economic measures—these tools provide a snapshot of research findings in an easily interpretable format. Widely recognized indices, like the Human Development Index or indices tracking Sustainable Development Goals, illustrate how complex research can be made more accessible and useful for further analysis and policy-making.

Explore Datastory’s Rankings and Indices ➔

Data Explorers for Flexible Data Exploration

Data Explorers are specifically designed for researchers who need to analyze large datasets with customizable options. With features to select specific indicators, apply filters, and view data from different perspectives, researchers can tailor their exploration to meet their analytical needs. Data Explorers allow users to sift through large volumes of data and focus on specific aspects, such as demographics, time periods, or regional trends. This interactive approach enables researchers to communicate their findings more effectively and helps audiences gain insights at a glance, enhancing the overall impact of their research.

Explore Datastory’s Data Explorers ➔

Each of these tools transforms complex data into accessible formats, enabling researchers to present their work in ways that engage, inform, and inspire.

Our Academic and Research Partners

Datastory developed two interactive reports for the Swedish House of Finance that bring crucial insights on carbon pricing and tax policy design to life, helping communicate complex data more effectively.

• Does Carbon Pricing Work?

  This report provides dynamic tools to explore how carbon pricing impacts emissions across industries, using interactive comparisons and visualizations.

  Explore the full report ➔

• Designing a Carbon Tax Policy that Works

  This report examines effective carbon tax design, with interactive graphs showing how different tax structures influence emissions.

  Explore the full report ➔

Conclusion

We aim to equip every researcher in the world with the best tools to effectively communicate their work. With Datastory, we provide proven templates that you can adapt to your research area. You can create and share visualizations from your datasets and easily update them over time. Moreover, we make it easy to create your publications, like a website or open data hub for your research division or university.

Your research deserves to be seen and understood. With Datastory's tools, you're not just sharing data; you're telling a story. Elevate your data, amplify your voice, and make a lasting impact.

Start using Datastory today.