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Data Storytelling

Topics: present to a technical and a nontechnical audience. Storytelling. Bring arcane subjects into general use. Use econometrics techniques. Pose hypotheses, set goals, perform analyses and draw conclusions.

Code: R / Tool: RStudio

People like stories. If data science brings value to the data, storytelling can bring value to data science.

We incorporate cases to fake scenes inspired by a motion picture: Pulp Fiction.

The cult classics is simply a backdrop. Does it make any sense to mix a 1994 scenario and modern data science cases: the answer is… no. Nevertheless, interweaving econometric analyses into the movie framework can be… enjoyable. We barely remember the numbers. We better remember the story; which reminds us of the numbers.

In the movie, Vincent and Jules like digressing: European habits and culinary curiosities, odds of being shot, coincidence or randomness…

They could have discussed many more things – we address these topics:

  • Champagne production.
  • Wine estate investment.
  • Real estate valuation.
  • Penetration of a new (drug) market.
  • Impact of publicity on sales.
  • Usury loans vs. saving rates.
  • And many more.

Follow the story…

…along with the series of cases.

  • Consult the case in a new tab (Show/Hide All Code in the case upper-right corner).

Cut scenes

‘Data Storytelling’ covers the most common techniques. As with any movies, there are cut scenes: advanced or specialized techniques. Consult the case in a new tab.

Pulp Fiction classic scene

    VINCENT
Well, in Amsterdam, you can buy beer in a movie theater. 
And I don't mean in a paper cup either.
They give you a glass of beer, like in a bar. 
In Paris, you can buy beer at MacDonald's. 
Also, you know what they call a Quarter Pound with Cheese in Paris?
    JULES
They don't call it a Quarter Pound with Cheese?
    VINCENT
No, they get the metric system there. 
They don't know the f-@!* what a quarter pound is.
    JULES
What'd they call it then?
    VINCENT
They call it: a Royale with Cheese.
    JULES
Royale with Cheese! What'd they call a Big Mac?
    VINCENT
A Big Mac is a Big Mac, buy they call it Le Big Mac.
    JULES
Le Big Mac! 
What do they call a Whopper?
    VINCENT
I dunno, I didn't go to Burger King. 
But you know what they put on French fries in Holland instead of ketchup?
    JULES
What?
    VINCENT
Mayonnaise.
(...)