Data sources & treatment

Any visualisation of data should include references that explain the origin of the data and what processes it has undergone to prepare it for its visual portrayal. Typically, details of the data source are located in one of the following places: in the introduction, as a footnote beneath the chart or at the bottom of the page.

Data sources and treatment might explain how the data was gathered and what criteria were used when deciding which aspects to include or exclude. It might also mention the important assumptions or calculations that have been performed on the data. Visualisation designers believe it is important to demonstrate transparency and to give credit to the origin of their data.

In ‘The Pursuit of Faster’ the link ‘Read more about the project’ provides details such as the origin of the data and the fact that only the medal winners from those Summer Olympic events that have a time-based measure were included.