Viliam_Bur comments on 2013 Survey Results - Less Wrong

74 Post author: Yvain 19 January 2014 02:51AM

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Comment author: Viliam_Bur 20 January 2014 10:22:11AM *  1 point [-]

Formatting: I find the reports a bit difficult to scan, because each line contains two numbers (absolute numbers, relative percents), which are not vertically aligned. An absolute value of one line may be just below the value of another line, and the numbers may similar, which makes it difficult to e.g. quickly find a highest value in the set.

I think this could be significantly improved with a trivial change: write the numbers at the beginning of the line, that will make them better aligned. For even better legibility, insert a separator (wider than just a comma) between absolute and relative numbers.

Now:

Yes, all the time: 94, 5.7%
Yes, sometimes: 179, 10.9%
No: 1316, 80.4%
Did not answer: 48, 2.9%

Proposed:

94 = 5.7% - Yes, all the time
179 = 10.9% - Yes, sometimes
1316 = 80.4% - No
48 = 2.9% - Did not answer

For example in the original version it is easy to see something like "94.5, 179, 80.4, 48.2" when reading carelessly.

Comment author: NancyLebovitz 26 January 2014 01:41:38AM *  1 point [-]

Two more possibilities with things really lined up. I think the first is somewhat better. The dots are added so Markdown doesn't destroy the spacing.

Yes, all the time........94......5.7%
Yes, sometimes......179......10.9%
No.........................1316.....80.4%
Did not answer...........48......2.9%

...94 = 5.7%.......Yes, all the time
.179 = 10.9%......Yes, sometimes
1316 = 80.4%......No
....48 = 2.9%......Did not answer