Data Visualization

This course provides an overview of a variety of data visualization techniques in R, aiming to equip participants with the skills to select and implement appropriate data visualizations for their applied research projects. Building on an introduction about the fundamental goals of data visualization, the course will first introduce different descriptive data visualization techniques both with base R and ggplot2. This will include an introduction to different mapping techniques, such as preparing world maps or building maps with shapefiles. The course will then move on to model-based visualizations, focusing on the effective presentation of empirical results from surveys or regression analyses through tools such as coefficient plots, simulated expected value plots, and event study plots. Participants will be introduced to some of the most recent R packages that are used for data visualizations. The course will place particular emphasis on producing publication-ready figures, including the creation of high resolution plots using color-blind-friendly palettes and the effective integration into Overleaf. Finally, students will be introduced to some techniques for visualizing text data and creating dynamic plots. All R code used to generate the visualizations will be provided, enabling participants to adapt and apply it to their own datasets.

Prerequisites Course participants are expected to have at least a basic understanding of R and an interest in quantitative research. This course is open for all researchers at the GIGA Hamburg and primarily aimed at doctoral researchers and postdoctoral fellows.

Date & Time:

The training will take place online on 10-11 November 2025, from 09:00 to 15:00 (both days).

About the Trainer 

The course will be taught by Dr. Christoph Valentin Steinert from the University of Zurich. He is a postdoctoral fellow and lead researcher of a research project funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation. He holds a PhD degree from the University of Mannheim and an MPhil degree from the University of Oxford. He conducts empirical research on international organizations, state repression, and human rights, employing a range of quantitative methods and data visualization techniques. He has published his research in outlets such as the British Journal of Political Science, the Journal of Politics, Journal of Peace Research, or International Studies Quarterly.