How can you use data to create a sense of curiosity?

Data can be a powerful tool to engage your audience and persuade them to take action. But how can you use data to create a sense of curiosity, rather than boredom or confusion? In this article, you will learn some tips and techniques to present data in a way that sparks interest, questions, and insights.

1 Use stories and narratives

Data alone is not enough to capture attention. You need to connect data to a story or a narrative that shows why it matters, what it reveals, and what it implies. Stories and narratives help you create a context, a conflict, and a resolution for your data. They also help you appeal to emotions, values, and goals. For example, instead of showing a chart of sales figures, you could tell a story of how your product solved a customer's problem, how it overcame a challenge, or how it achieved a milestone.

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Mitanshu Raj Srivastava

Specialist, Gartner | Data Quality & Governance |
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Connecting a dataset results with a real life trending scenario helps to get the audience engaged, but before doing that you need to have a quick glance at the audience demography, so that you can narrate and tie your story to a scenario where everyone can connect in a jiffy. It helps in increasing the attention span and eventually helps in delivering optimum message without boring the audience.

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2 Ask questions and invite feedback

Another way to create curiosity with data is to ask questions and invite feedback from your audience. Questions and feedback help you stimulate dialogue, interaction, and participation. They also help you check for understanding, clarify doubts, and address objections. For example, instead of telling your audience what your data means, you could ask them what they think, what they notice, or what they wonder. You could also ask them to share their own experiences, opinions, or suggestions related to your data.

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Nyan Min

Finance | Data | Banking | Fintech
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I would start by figuring out what a user is anticipating from the dataset. After that, I would identify two or three points a user might interested in and I would make them stand out in the report. It would be great if they could be a fact that might shock them in a way that could help them exploit opportunities. Or it could be an anomaly that doesn't fit well with their anticipated narrative and makes them more cautious. The curious data will invariably create follow-up questions and lively discussions that could benefit both ways for the data analyst as well as for the business owner.

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3 Use visuals and animations

Visuals and animations can help you make your data more appealing, memorable, and understandable. Visuals and animations can help you highlight key points, show trends and patterns, and compare and contrast data. They can also help you simplify complex data, illustrate concepts, and demonstrate processes. For example, instead of showing a table of numbers, you could use a graph, a map, or a diagram to visualize your data. You could also use animations to show changes over time, transitions between states, or cause-and-effect relationships.

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4 Use surprises and contrasts

Surprises and contrasts can help you create curiosity with data by challenging expectations, assumptions, and beliefs. Surprises and contrasts can help you capture attention, generate interest, and provoke reactions. They can also help you emphasize differences, reveal gaps, and create tension. For example, instead of showing a predictable or consistent data, you could show a surprising or contradictory data. You could also show a contrast between your data and a common perception, a benchmark, or a goal.

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5 Use analogies and metaphors

Analogies and metaphors can help you create curiosity with data by making connections, comparisons, and associations. Analogies and metaphors can help you explain data in a familiar or relatable way, show similarities or differences, and create images or associations. They can also help you evoke emotions, sensations, and imagination. For example, instead of showing a raw or abstract data, you could use an analogy or a metaphor to relate your data to something concrete or tangible. You could also use an analogy or a metaphor to create a vivid or humorous picture of your data.

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6 Use curiosity gaps and teasers

Curiosity gaps and teasers can help you create curiosity with data by withholding information, creating suspense, and promising rewards. Curiosity gaps and teasers can help you arouse curiosity, motivate action, and encourage exploration. They can also help you segment your data, create a sequence, and build anticipation. For example, instead of showing all your data at once, you could use a curiosity gap or a teaser to reveal your data gradually, partially, or conditionally. You could also use a curiosity gap or a teaser to hint at what your data will show, why it is important, or how it will benefit your audience.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Aidan Hitchcock

I help Spanish and LATAM IT Professionals communicate effectively, confidently and fluently in English.
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Start with a mind-blowing statistic or an intriguing question that makes your audience wonder. Share just enough data to get them intrigued, and then gradually reveal more as you go along, like telling a suspenseful story. Don't forget to showcase any unexpected findings or real-life scenarios connected to the data. Keep them engaged by involving them with interactive elements and always invite your audience to take a moment to consider the significance or implications of the information you're presenting.

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How can you use data to create a sense of curiosity?

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4

5

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1 Use stories and narratives

2 Ask questions and invite feedback

3 Use visuals and animations

4 Use surprises and contrasts

5 Use analogies and metaphors

6 Use curiosity gaps and teasers

7 Here’s what else to consider

Presentation Skills

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How can you use data to create a sense of curiosity?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Use stories and narratives

2 Ask questions and invite feedback

3 Use visuals and animations

4 Use surprises and contrasts

5 Use analogies and metaphors

6 Use curiosity gaps and teasers

7 Here’s what else to consider

Presentation Skills

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