Chapter 12: Quiz - Fundamentals of Sports Data Visualization

Instructions

This quiz covers the fundamental principles of sports data visualization. Select the best answer for each question. Some questions may have multiple correct approaches, but choose the BEST answer based on the principles discussed in this chapter.

Section 1: Visual Perception (Questions 1-8)

Question 1

Which pre-attentive attribute is most accurate for comparing exact values?

A) Color hue B) Position along a common scale C) Area/Size D) Color intensity

Question 2

When visualizing EPA values that range from -0.5 to +0.5, which color scheme is most appropriate?

A) Sequential (light to dark blue) B) Diverging (red to white to green) C) Categorical (distinct colors for each value) D) Rainbow (full spectrum)

Question 3

According to Gestalt principles, which technique would best show that two charts represent related offensive data?

A) Use the same colors in both charts B) Place them close together with shared axis C) Add explicit labels saying "Related" D) Both A and B

Question 4

What is the "data-ink ratio"?

A) The ratio of ink used for data vs. total ink on the page B) The amount of data per square inch C) The number of colors used in a visualization D) The ratio of charts to text in a report

Question 5

Which element would NOT be considered "chart junk"?

A) 3D effects on a bar chart B) Axis labels showing units C) Decorative background images D) Excessive gridlines

Question 6

Why do position-based encodings outperform area-based encodings for accuracy?

A) Positions use less ink B) Human visual system judges lengths more accurately than areas C) Positions are more colorful D) Areas require more computer processing

Question 7

What happens to cognitive load when a visualization uses more than 5-7 distinct categories?

A) Cognitive load decreases B) Cognitive load increases, reducing comprehension C) Cognitive load remains constant D) Cognitive load becomes irrelevant

Question 8

Which visual encoding is processed pre-attentively (automatically by the brain)?

A) Reading text labels B) A single red dot among blue dots C) Understanding a legend D) Calculating percentages

Section 2: Chart Type Selection (Questions 9-16)

Question 9

For showing how a team's win probability changed throughout a single game, which chart type is most appropriate?

A) Bar chart B) Pie chart C) Line chart D) Scatter plot

Question 10

When comparing five teams across a single metric (EPA/play), which visualization is preferred?

A) Pie chart B) Horizontal bar chart C) Radar chart D) Tree map

Question 11

To show the relationship between recruiting ranking and subsequent win percentage, which chart is best?

A) Stacked bar chart B) Line chart C) Scatter plot with trend line D) Pie chart

Question 12

For showing the breakdown of offensive play types (run: 40%, short pass: 35%, deep pass: 25%), which is LEAST appropriate?

A) Horizontal bar chart B) Pie chart C) Stacked bar chart D) Scatter plot

Question 13

When would a radar chart be an appropriate choice?

A) Comparing two values B) Showing trends over time C) Comparing multiple entities across 5+ metrics simultaneously D) Displaying proportions of a whole

Question 14

Which chart type is best for showing the distribution of QB EPA/attempt values?

A) Bar chart B) Line chart C) Histogram or density plot D) Pie chart

Question 15

For displaying rank changes over multiple weeks, which specialized chart is designed for this purpose?

A) Waterfall chart B) Bump chart C) Funnel chart D) Gauge chart

Question 16

When should you use small multiples instead of a single complex chart?

A) When you have too much data for one chart B) When comparing the same pattern across categories C) When colors aren't available D) When printing in black and white

Section 3: Color Theory (Questions 17-22)

Question 17

Approximately what percentage of males have some form of color vision deficiency?

A) 1% B) 4% C) 8% D) 15%

Question 18

Which color combination is most problematic for colorblind viewers?

A) Blue and yellow B) Red and green C) Blue and orange D) Purple and gray

Question 19

What is the recommended approach for ensuring colorblind accessibility?

A) Use only grayscale B) Add redundant encodings (shape, pattern, labels) C) Use brighter colors D) Avoid all color

Question 20

When using team colors in visualizations, what should you ensure?

A) Use exact official colors always B) Maintain sufficient contrast against background C) Never modify team colors D) Only use primary colors

Question 21

For semantic meaning, which color is most universally associated with "negative" or "danger"?

A) Blue B) Green C) Red D) Yellow

Question 22

What is the purpose of using transparency (alpha) in scatter plots?

A) To make colors brighter B) To reveal overlapping data points C) To reduce file size D) To improve print quality

Section 4: Typography and Layout (Questions 23-26)

Question 23

For data labels on a chart, what is the recommended font characteristic?

A) Decorative serif fonts B) Bold, large fonts C) Clean sans-serif fonts at readable size D) Italic fonts for emphasis

Question 24

What is the recommended reading order for visualizations in Western cultures?

A) Bottom-right to top-left B) Top-left to bottom-right C) Center outward D) Random/artistic

Question 25

In a dashboard layout, where should the most important KPIs be placed?

A) Bottom center B) Top left or top center C) Bottom right D) Hidden in a submenu

Question 26

What is "progressive disclosure" in dashboard design?

A) Showing all data at once B) Revealing details on demand (hover, click) C) Using fade-in animations D) Printing multiple pages

Section 5: Audience Considerations (Questions 27-30)

Question 27

For a head coach viewing analytics during a game, visualizations should prioritize:

A) Comprehensive detail and methodology B) Quick insights and actionable information C) Beautiful aesthetics D) Historical context

Question 28

When presenting to team executives (GM, owner), which approach is most appropriate?

A) Dense technical charts with all available data B) Simplified visualizations with clear business implications C) Raw data tables for them to analyze D) Only positive results

Question 29

For fan-facing graphics on social media, which consideration is MOST important?

A) Including source code B) Maximum data density C) Mobile-friendly sizing and quick comprehension D) Academic citations

Question 30

What is the primary difference between broadcast graphics and analysis dashboards?

A) Broadcast uses more data B) Broadcast requires faster comprehension (5-8 seconds) C) Dashboards are always interactive D) Broadcast never uses color

Answer Key

Section 1: Visual Perception

  1. B - Position along a common scale is the most accurate pre-attentive attribute for comparing values
  2. B - Diverging schemes are ideal for data with a meaningful midpoint (0 for EPA)
  3. D - Both proximity (Gestalt) and color consistency help show relationship
  4. A - Data-ink ratio measures proportion of ink devoted to non-redundant data display
  5. B - Axis labels with units are essential, not chart junk
  6. B - The human visual system processes length comparisons more accurately than area
  7. B - Exceeding working memory limits (~7 items) increases cognitive load
  8. B - Color pop-out (single different item) is processed pre-attentively

Section 2: Chart Type Selection

  1. C - Line charts show change over continuous time
  2. B - Horizontal bar charts are ideal for comparing categories on one metric
  3. C - Scatter plots reveal relationships between two continuous variables
  4. D - Scatter plots are for relationships, not composition
  5. C - Radar charts work for multi-attribute comparisons across entities
  6. C - Histograms and density plots show distributions
  7. B - Bump charts are specifically designed for rank changes over time
  8. B - Small multiples excel at showing the same relationship across subsets

Section 3: Color Theory

  1. C - Approximately 8% of males have some color vision deficiency
  2. B - Red-green colorblindness (deuteranopia/protanopia) is most common
  3. B - Redundant encodings ensure accessibility without eliminating color
  4. B - Contrast and readability take precedence over exact color matching
  5. C - Red universally signals negative/danger across cultures
  6. B - Transparency reveals density and overlap in point clouds

Section 4: Typography and Layout

  1. C - Sans-serif fonts are clean and readable for data labels
  2. B - Western reading pattern flows top-left to bottom-right
  3. B - Key information should follow natural reading start point
  4. B - Progressive disclosure shows overview first, details on interaction

Section 5: Audience Considerations

  1. B - Game-time decisions require fast, actionable insights
  2. B - Executives need business-relevant insights, not technical complexity
  3. C - Social media requires mobile-first design and instant comprehension
  4. B - Broadcast graphics must communicate in seconds, not minutes

Scoring Guide

  • 27-30 correct: Excellent understanding of visualization fundamentals
  • 23-26 correct: Good grasp of core concepts; review missed topics
  • 19-22 correct: Adequate foundation; additional practice recommended
  • Below 19: Review chapter material before proceeding

Concept Review by Score

If you missed Questions 1-8 (Visual Perception):

Review Section 12.1 on the science of visual perception. Focus on pre-attentive attributes and Gestalt principles. Practice identifying which visual encodings match different data types.

If you missed Questions 9-16 (Chart Types):

Review Section 12.2 on chart type selection. Create a personal reference guide matching chart types to use cases. Practice the selection decision tree.

If you missed Questions 17-22 (Color):

Review Section 12.3 on color theory. Test your visualizations with colorblindness simulators. Build a personal accessible color palette.

If you missed Questions 23-26 (Typography/Layout):

Review Section 12.4 on typography and layout. Analyze professional dashboards for layout patterns. Practice F-pattern and Z-pattern layouts.

If you missed Questions 27-30 (Audience):

Review Section 12.5 on audience-specific design. For each visualization you create, explicitly identify the target audience before starting design.