What are the best ways to use data to showcase your research or work?

2 Visualize it clearly

Once you have chosen the right data, you need to present it in a way that is easy to understand and remember. Visualizing your data can help you achieve this goal, as it can make your data more attractive, engaging, and impactful. However, not all visualizations are equally effective. You need to choose the right type of chart, graph, or diagram for your data, and follow some basic principles of design, such as simplicity, contrast, alignment, and consistency. You should also avoid common pitfalls, such as clutter, distortion, and misleading scales.

4 Persuade with emotion

Data can be informative and convincing, but it can also be dry and boring. To make your presentation more memorable and persuasive, you need to connect your data with emotion. Emotion can help you capture your audience's attention, stimulate their curiosity, and influence their decisions. To connect your data with emotion, you should use storytelling techniques, such as setting the scene, creating a conflict, and resolving it with a solution. You should also use anecdotes, examples, or testimonials that illustrate your data and show its impact on real people or situations.

5 Practice and refine

The final step to use data to showcase your research or work is to practice and refine your presentation. Practicing your presentation can help you improve your delivery, your timing, and your confidence. You can practice by yourself, with a colleague, or with a mock audience. You should also seek feedback from others, and use it to refine your presentation. You should focus on improving your content, your design, and your performance, and make sure that your presentation is clear, coherent, and compelling.

6 Share and inspire

Using data to showcase your research or work is not only a way to inform your audience, but also a way to inspire them. By using data effectively, you can show your passion, your credibility, and your value. You can also spark curiosity, interest, and action in your audience, and make a positive difference in your field or industry. Therefore, you should not hesitate to share your data and your story with others, and use it as a tool to create impact and change.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?