Below is a list of recommended tools for visualizing research metrics. Categories include General Visualization, Network Analysis, and Infographics. Most of these tools require cleaning the metrics data before visualization, achievable through the use of data tools.
For advice and consultation on how to use these tools to visualize research impact, please contact Jaime Blanck (Lead Informationist).
Tableau Public is the free online version of Tableau. Tableau Public allows you to create interactive graphics with large datasets and publish them to the web. This free version does not include a desktop license. Students may receive a discount or a trial on a license. Check the vendor page for more details.
Microsoft Excel can visualize datasets through its charts, graphs, or histograms features. Once the graphic is created, it can be exported as an image. JH students and staff can access the online MS Office 365 suite for free via the my.jhu.edu portal.
Draw.io is a free extension that can be used to create a variety of diagrams and flowcharts via Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive. Types of visualizations include flow charts, infographics, tree diagrams, mind maps, network diagrams, Gantt charts, and wireframe models. Explore more examples on Draw.io's website. Data is stored in individual Google Drive accounts.
VOSviewer specializes in network analysis of bibliometric data. Unlike most other visualization tools, no data cleaning is required; instead, bibliometric data can be downloaded directly from different journal databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, etc), and then directly opened with VOSviewer. Depending on which database the dataset is pulled from, visualizations can depict the occurrence of citation, bibliographic coupling, co-citation, or co-authorship relations.
The Science of Science (Sci2) supports data preparation, preprocessing, analysis, and visualization of scholarly datasets. It works in tandem with other tools such as Gephi to visualize the data after preprocessing.
Gephi is a tool that allows for visualizing networks of prepared datasets from a variety of sources. Gephi often works in tandem with Sci2.
Microsoft PowerPoint allows users to insert charts and graphs from Excel. Once in a PowerPoint slide, there are several features available (inserting a background image, creating arrows, icons, etc) which can help create an infographic which conveys the story surrounding your research impact. JHU students and staff can access the online MS Office 365 suite for free via the my.jhu.edu portal.
Microsoft Excel can visualize datasets through its charts, graphs, or histograms features. Once the chart is created, it can be exported as an image. JH students and staff can access the online MS Office 365 suite for free via the my.jhu.edu portal.
A graphic-design tool with a free pricing-plan where users can create infographics from a number of custom templates, featuring free stock photos and illustrations. A number of options are available for exporting infographics once complete.
Google Drawings is a free tool provided by Google which allows for individual or collaborative creation of charts and diagrams. This tool is also convenient for editing metric visualizations after exporting from other software.
