Abstract:

Are you interested in learning how to make memorable and effective data visualizations for your research? In this workshop we will discuss principles of data visualization with a focus on linguistic data. Specifically, we will outline strategies for developing elegant, informative plots by implementing principles from graphic design and the grammar of graphics (Wilkinson, 2012). The workshop will cover how to think about data and the visual communication of data when designing figures using R (R Core Team, 2022) and ggplot2 (Wickham, 2009). This includes general do’s and dont’s, deciding how to pick the most appropriate plot for your data, as well as best practices for visualizing uncertainty, highlighting/annotating key graphical elements, formatting for publication, and much more. The workshop will combine theory and practice so attendees are encouraged to bring their computers with the latest version of R installed. Prior experience, while helpful, is not necessary.

Bio:

Joseph Casillas is an associate professor of Spanish Linguistics in the Spanish and Portuguese Department and associate faculty in the Department of Linguistics at Rutgers University, New Brunswick. His main interests are in phonetics, laboratory phonology, and second language acquisition. A principle aim of his research is to better understand the relationship between language use and sound representation in the multilingual mind, as well as the structure of sound systems in human languages. Most of his research is conducted on bilinguals of varying proficiency and linguistic experience. Some of his recent projects have centered on native phonetic experience and its influence on L2 speech production, perception and lexical processing. He also focuses his time and attention on coding, statistical analysis, data visualization, and reproducible research, as well as training researchers to implement open research practices in the speech sciences, particularly in bilingualism/second language acquisition research. He also enjoys playing music, Casio watches, and anything related to el andalú.