ERIC Number: EJ1055432
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014-Apr
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2324-805X
EISSN: N/A
Talking with Teachers, Administrators, and Parents: Preferences for Visual Displays of Education Data
Alverson, Charlotte Y.; Yamamoto, Scott H.
Journal of Education and Training Studies, v2 n2 p114-125 Apr 2014
The purpose of this study was to learn from educational stakeholders what characteristics they like and dislike when viewing graphs of post-school outcomes data. We conducted six, 1-hour focus groups with teachers, administrators, and parents in which we distributed four stimuli graphs--horizontal grouped bars, horizontal stacked bars, vertical stacked columns, and vertical grouped columns--to solicit participants' preferences for data displayed graphically. Our findings indicate that multiple factors contributed to participants' stated preferences for one graphic display over another. These factors include ease of understanding information displayed in the graph, familiarity with the display, comfort, as well as speed and habit for administrators. We discuss implications for practitioners, identify areas for further research, and recommend considerations when designing graphs for educational stakeholders
Descriptors: Tables (Data), Graphs, Information Dissemination, Data, Information Utilization, Decision Making, Focus Groups, Secondary School Teachers, Graduate Students, Administrators, Parents, Visual Stimuli, Individual Characteristics, Demography, Qualitative Research
Redfame Publishing Inc. 9450 SW Gemini Drive #99416, Beaverton, OR 97008. Tel: 503-828-0536 ext. 503; Fax: 503-828-0537; e-mail: jets@redfame.com; Web site: http://jets.redfame.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education; Higher Education; Postsecondary Education; High Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A