I've used JReview a small amount. I suspect it would only have a portal into R, so probably a lot cleaner/easier to use R on its own (but this is only a suspicion based on some SAS features of JReview).
And this speaks to Steve's comment about statisticians who have access to data visualization software (e.g. Spotfire, JMP, Miner3D, etc.). If all the statistician needs to do graphically is explore, then I'd tend to agree, as one can usually get 70-80% of what's of interest with solutions someone has designed in their canned point/click, PROC, etc. And when the audience is us (ie, well trained in looking at data and if it's our study, also well versed in the data itself), we can get the rest of the way there without the graph being necessarily all that well designed.
But if the graph is needed for a presentation to others, a publication or submission, that's a very different story. That is why we created the wiki, to encourage use of standard graph types for commonly asked questions in drug safety. When the commonly asked drug safety questions are answered more consistently with graphs well-designed to answer them, there will be more clarity for patients in the treatment choices they face.
Having had some training from and interaction with Naomi, I believe it's also a motivation for writing her book, which I can highly recommend.
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Susan Duke
Manager, Benefit Risk Evaluation
Global Clinical Safety and Pharmacovigilance
GlaxoSmithKline
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-11-2013 12:52
From: Naomi Robbins
Subject: Visualizing 4D
I don't know JReview but the link you provided shows that it has R integration so you can create trellis plots through R.
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Naomi Robbins
NBR
Author of Creating More Effective Graphs
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-11-2013 12:15
From: Steven Burke
Subject: Visualizing 4D
Any statistician whose employer licenses data visualization software (e.g. Spotfire, JMP, Miner3D, etc.) has no time constraints insofar as time investment to program graph construction - mere seconds for point-and-click exchange of roles serving axes, Trellis plot conditioning variables, etc. Scroll halfway down this link, example 2 is generally regarded a classic that prominently highlights the usefulness of Trellis plots to visually reveal and connect intuition, scientific understanding and actionable discoveries:
http://netlib.bell-labs.com/cm/ms/departments/sia/project/trellis/display.examples.html
Slide 21 of presentation (third web link) that Susan Duke offered in her post states, "... value of clear communications inherent in graphs is typically downstream from the group who creates them." It's in such multidisciplinary settings that we have priceless opportunities to collaborate in making effective team contributions. Bring to bear the subject-matter knowledge possessed by the intended audience to inform, steer, and align statistician data visualization expertise onto what's important re: the applied science base. The mutual learning that often occurs can pay unimaginable future dividends on reciprocal professional career development.The second web link Susan provided shows the three latest graph entry additions to the CTSpedia library, wherein R code creates the individual QTc display. JReview clinical data website shows graph examples, yet functionality for rendering Trellis plot visualizations isn't included among highlights:
http://www.i-review.com/jreview.html
I've yet to invest time to familiarize myself in hands-on use of JReview software features licensed at my current workplace. Can it create Trellis plots?
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Steven Burke
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-09-2013 11:11
From: Susan Duke
Subject: Visualizing 4D
Raymond,
That's great news! Glad you have what you need regarding tools. Someone mentioned that area (ie, size of the dots) is not something humans are good at processing. As a follower of Edward Tufte's graphics principles (who has a lot to say about graphic design), consider for your manuscript, what is the Thought Task that you want the audience of the manuscript to undertake? What do you want them to take away from seeing the graph?
It's been my life experience that pictures and stories are the most compelling ways of getting across ideas to others. It's not just the graphics tool! More important is the graphic design.
A cross-industry group of FDA and pharmaceuttical industry statisticians have been thinking about both the design and easy ways to graph safety data. You are in a different field than pharmaceuticals, but regardless, these Graphics Best Practices can be useful as a checklist https://www.ctspedia.org/do/view/CTSpedia/BestPractices
If you're curious about our team's work, here is the website: https://www.ctspedia.org/do/view/CTSpedia/StatGraphHome
And here is one of the presentations floating around the ether that summarizes it http://www.bassconference.org/PDFs/BASS%202012%20Duke.pdf
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Susan Duke, MS, MS
Manager, Benefit Risk Evaluation
Global Clinical Safety and Pharmacovigilance
GlaxoSmithKline
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