TABLE 1.

Criteria for evaluating graph attributes explaining the components of graph mechanics, data form, graph choice, and aesthetics

Categories used to describe graphs qualitatively	Category descriptions	Citations
Graph mechanics	Title: a title should be descriptive for the graph. Axes labels: both the x- and y-axis labels should be appropriate and descriptive for the experiment. Units: should be appropriate and descriptive for the type of data displayed. Scale: should be appropriate for the data displayed such that the increments are clear and easy to understand.	Padilla et al., 1986; Li and Shen, 1992; Brasell and Rowe, 1993; Kosslyn, 1994; Kostelnick, 1998; Ainley, 2000; Konold and Higgins, 2003; Leonard and Patterson, 2004; Bruno and Espinel, 2009; Bray-Speth et al., 2010; McFarland, 2010
Data form	1. Graph should show a clear distinction between raw and manipulated data plotted.	Wild and Pfannkuch, 1999; Konold et al., 2015
Graph choice	Graph type: graph type should be appropriate for both the independent and dependent variables. Alignment: graph should align with the original intended purpose. Take-home message: graph type allows reader to draw appropriate conclusions from the data in the graph.	Cleveland, 1984; Li and Shen, 1992; Bright and Friel, 1998; Shah et al., 1999; Schriger and Cooper, 2001; Konold and Higgins, 2003; Grawemeyer and Cox, 2004; Leonard and Patterson, 2004; Metz, 2008; Bray-Speth et al., 2010; McFarland, 2010; Franzblau and Chung, 2012; Humphrey et al., 2014; Rougier et al., 2014; Slutsky, 2014; Angra and Gardner, 2016
Aesthetics and visuospatial aspects	The graph should be pleasing to the eye such that the data plotted occupy sufficient room in the Cartesian plane. Sound construction and mechanistic properties enable the reader to extract meaning from the graph.	Tufte, 1983; Kosslyn, 1994; Kostelnick, 1998; Kellman, 2000; Few, 2004