Enhancing Data Visualization Literacy: A Comparative Study of Learning Materials in Schools

Interpreting data visualizations is an essential skill in today’s education, yet students often struggle with understanding unfamiliar formats. This study investigates how four learning materials – textbook, comic, video, and game – affect middle- and high school students’ ability to interpret line charts, area charts, stacked area charts, and stream graphs. We conducted a comparative classroom study with 68 students, using pre- and post-tests, worksheet activities, and group discussions to assess learning outcomes and understanding. Our results show statistically significant improvement in students’ understanding of stacked area charts and streamgraphs, while no significant differences between the learning materials were found. This suggests that more factors than initially anticipated – such as engagement, motivation and active learning strategies – influence the learning outcome. The analysis of the worksheets revealed that while students could infer surface-level insights from charts, over 70% struggled to identify underlying patterns or relationships. Additionally, a common challenge across all learning materials was reading fatigue, which often led students to skim content, disengage, or misinterpret key information. These findings highlight the need for educational tools and approaches that foster deeper understanding of unfamiliar visualizations, reduce cognitive load, and encourage active engagement.