The quality of figures in an academic paper can have a large impact on how the research is received. Substandard figures do not pass the scientific community by unnoticed, potentially reducing the impact and dissemination of research.

In this article, we look at how researchers should approach designing their visuals to avoid the repercussions of poor-quality figures.

How to approach making high-quality figures

Figures should ultimately simplify complex data or ideas into digestible information. They provide a reference for readers, supplementing the text so that it is easier to visualise and understand.

As such, they should be minimalist, only providing information necessary to clarify an idea. A good figure has been trimmed of all the excess data, so that the result is uncluttered and comprehensible.

Below are 4 questions every researcher should consider when creating visuals for their work.

1.      Does your figure have a clear purpose?

Before starting the design process, researchers should first outline exactly what it is their figure is communicating. Figures are justified if they adequately simplify results and enhance a reader’s understanding.

If there is no clear need for a visual, then it can make the rest of the paper seem unfocused and poorly organised. In other words, it will distract the reader from the main line of argument.

This can increase the risk of rejection by journals, as well as reduce the citation rate and impact within the field if published. Figures should be used to augment the main body of the paper, thus increasing the value of the research, not detracting from it.

2.      Is your chosen format the most appropriate choice?

There are many ways to represent data. What may be a valid choice for one dataset may be completely unsuitable for another.

It’s up to the authors to consider all the appropriate options to showcase their results. The chosen format should bring the key message to the fore, with uncluttered and understandable data.

Additionally, ensuring that everything—axes, curves, etc.—is labelled clearly and correctly is paramount. Be as specific as possible: include scale bars, legends, units, etc., so that the reader has everything they need to understand the data just from looking at the figure.

3.      Is it consistent with the text and other figures?

It is highly important to define the font, text size, colour scheme, etc., for each visual you create. This should be consistent across all figures. Doing so ensures the paper looks professional and lends it clarity, as well as making it look more authoritative.

All values or results used in the table should also be consistent with the rest of the paper, with the same units, rounding to the same significant figure, etc. And the same terminology should be used as in the text.

For example, if referred to as “Placebo Group” in the text, the figure should mirror this, instead of using “Control Group” for the same data. This again reduces the risk of confusion and misinterpretation, making the paper easy to follow and understand.

4.      Is the data you included referenced in the text?

The best way to determine which data points to include is by reading through the text. If there is no mention of certain data, then they are not relevant to the reader.

An academic figure should be used to back up points raised in the body of the text. You shouldn’t introduce new information in a figure; this can confuse the reader and clutter the data being displayed.

Equally, a table means you don’t have to repeat specific values throughout the text. Constantly referring to values in the figure can be tedious to the reader; thus, it is best to refer them to the visual to prevent repetition.

For example, instead of saying “Figure 1 shows that the mean volume was 20 ml before the experiment, 15 ml during, and 10 ml after”, the author can say “As shown in Figure 1, the mean volume decreased by 10 ml during the experiment”.

Creating high-quality figures for your research

Clarity and consistency are the main considerations when making a figure for a research paper. Ultimately, they should be used to support the author’s argument and condense intricate, complicate topics into an easy-to-understand reference for the reader.

To ensure their work meets the highest academic standards, many authors opt for figure editing services to save time during the often-stressful submission process. These services ensure that your work looks professional, complies with publication standards and conventions, and meets journal criteria, reducing the chance of your paper being sent back by editorial staff.

If you want to read more on the importance of figures in academia, read about the importance of figures in academic research and our interview with Larry Liu, Author Services’ production coordinator.

MDPI Author Services now offers figure editing services to researchers who want to improve the visual impact of their research.

We produce publication-ready figures that clearly communicate your research to readers. This is completed in one business day from payment.