Gestalt Theory & Perception Quiz

Gestalt Theory and Perception

• The Gestalt theory has roots in philosophy and psychology, dating back to the late 1800s
• The theory suggests that the whole form is perceived rather than individual parts
• Humans perceive the world in organized, regular, and simple shapes due to how we visually interpret the world

Visual Perception

• 70% of our experience of the world is taken in through the sense of vision
• Our brains can only process less than 5% of our visual world at a time
• Vision is mostly a result of our brain and nervous system pathways transmitting sensory stimuli

Importance of Visualizations in Business

• Visuals can communicate more information than tables in a smaller space
• Graphical excellence gives the viewer the greatest number of ideas in the shortest time with the least ink in the smallest space

Goals of Data Visualization in Business

• Explanatory visuals: direct the viewer along a defined path to answer a question, support a decision, or communicate information
• Exploratory visuals: invite the viewer to explore the visual, ask questions, and find answers to those questions

Processing Visual Information

• Good decision-making involves turning data insights into action
• The goal of data visualization is impact, not numbers

Designing Charts and Graphs

• Choose the right visualization to tell the most truthful story
• Consider the type of data and the story you are trying to tell
• Use color to highlight specific insights or identify outliers
• Avoid using similar colors or too many colors

Data Types and Relationships

• Quantitative data: can be counted or measured; all values are numerical
• Discrete data: numerical data with a finite number of possible values
• Continuous data: measured data with a value within a range
• Categorical data: data that can be sorted according to group or category
• Data relationships: nominal comparison, time-series, correlation, ranking, deviation, distribution, and part-to-whole relationship