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1714alpha t1_j96qay6 wrote

Color scheme seems like it should be flipped.

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columntolumn t1_j96tlxh wrote

Also I don’t understand the use of a diverging color scale. I’ve only use diverging scales in chloropleths if there is a logical middle point (eg 0 if my scale includes neg and positive numbers). I guess in this case it makes it easier to distinguish the value of each county.

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SignificantDigits491 t1_j973ti5 wrote

It provides a larger number of visually distinguishable classes than a single color in different shades.

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Me_Melissa t1_j975ivp wrote

I think it creates an arbitrary line that intuitively feels like, "this is where there's problems, this is where things are good." At that point, whether intentionally or not, the color scale is editorializing the data presentation.

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kkngs t1_j97a3fw wrote

You are correct. It’s not an appropriate use of diverging color scheme. It’s more appropriate if you were looking at something like “change in percent of four condition Medicare recipients between 2010 and 2020”. Then one color would show trending up and the other trending down.

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theottozone t1_j96zcaj wrote

Does it matter if you provide the scale legend?

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KoeiNL t1_j97282m wrote

Yes, if you need to look at the scale to actually understand what is going on then you made a mistake in your visualisation.

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theottozone t1_j975l9a wrote

I disagree that's what the scale is for, to inform the audience on how the interpret the graph.

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KoeiNL t1_j97bo0d wrote

Your colouring should reflect the story you want to tell. What you are basically saying is that you are ok with a visualisation where red means good and green means bad as long as there is a scale/legend.

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theottozone t1_j97oyi9 wrote

And your saying yellow is the opposite of blue here? Theres no inherent meaning to colors. We give them that meaning and we document it in the legend.

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sei556 t1_j98syum wrote

Thats just bad/lazy design that can easily end up being manipulative. With any form of design, you always have to assume that whoever looks at it later on is the laziest person on earth. Because thats the average.

Your argument is like saying intuitive design for smartphones is useless because people can just read the manual.

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