Using Data Visualization Software (Tableau) to Enhance Data Dissemination
Deborah Fyler/Marin ClarkbergInstitutional Research and Planning
Cornell UniversityNov 2013
http://irp.dpb.cornell.edu/neair-meeting-in-newport-nov-2013
Overview- A tour of Cornell IR use of Tableau
• About Tableau• The Cornell Factbook (with a little history)• Surveys• Strategic metrics• Demo using IPEDS data and Tableau
About Tableau
NOT a spreadsheet program, not a statistical package – can’t run regressions
IS an efficient way to produce mountains of beautiful interactive tables and charts (maps, line, heatmaps, dashboards, word clouds, etc.) and put them on websites.
• You can customize colors, perform calculations and add annotations.• Don’t need to create endless variations of reports (e.g. a report for every department)• Data consumers can find the data they need easily and without training, and they can
slice and dice their data. • Trends become apparent with easy-to-produce graphs.• Reports can be designed by existing IR staff who know the data well and understand
reporting needs. Minimal training needed. Don’t need IT experts. • Access can be finely controlled (public/IR staff/deans/VPs)
The University Fact Book
• The Old Way (pre computers and on the web)• The Migration
http://irp.dpb.cornell.edu/university-factbook/factbook-archives
The University Fact Book
• The Old Way (pre computers and on the web)• The Migration – changing practice
Cornell Examples
1. Factbook http://irp.dpb.cornell.edu/university-factbook/quick-facts (four data sources)
http://irp.dpb.cornell.edu/university-factbook
2. Surveys http://irp.dpb.cornell.edu/surveys
New Student: http://irp.dpb.cornell.edu/tableau_visual/2013-new-student-survey 3. Strategic Metricshttp://irp.dpb.cornell.edu/strategic-metrics
IPEDS demo
http://public.tableausoftware.com/views/FinAidFTFTIPEDS/Dashboard1?:embed=y&:display_count=no
Our Website
• Website created in Wordpress in 2012• IR maintains; we can add new pages and graphs)• Structured to allow in-line (in page) Tableau viz (size is specific)• Icon with link to another page (viz) that is template-ed to contain a specific size• And… we also have website links to our secured Tableau server.
Google Analytics: https://tableau.dpb.cornell.edu/t/IRP/views/Websiteanalyticstest/Overall?:embed=y&:display_count=no
This presentation: http://irp.dpb.cornell.edu/neair-meeting-in-newport-nov-2013
http://ryrobes.com/visual-analytics-and-data-porn/between-crazy-genius-bigfoot-aliens-together-at-last/
For more information please contact:
Deborah Fyler (factbook) [email protected] Searle (surveys) [email protected] Clarkberg (director) [email protected]