The document outlines two approaches to identifying the objective of an infographic: 1) identify a question and research to find the objective, or 2) immerse yourself in a data set to find the objective. It then provides the basic steps to make an infographic, which include coming up with a question, researching data sources, identifying the appropriate format, clarifying the objective and focus, creating the infographic, and adding visual elements. An example is provided of a researcher developing an infographic to answer the question of whether having children hurts female academics' careers.

1. Identifying the Objective
of Your Infographic

2. Two approaches to identifying data for
infographics:
Identify a question that you
want to answer, and research
until you’ve found an objective
and focus.
Find an interesting collection and
immerse yourself in it until you
find an objective and focus. (i.e.
infographic/data visualization
contests)
e.g.
OR

3. Basic Steps to Making an Infographic
1. Come up with a question.
2. Research that question with data sets or
other resources (keep track of citations).
3. Identify the type of infographic that best
suits that question.
4. Clarify your objective and find a focus.
5. Explore free infographic creation sites and
identify the site that you’ll use to create
your infographic.
6. Hand sketch the infographic.
7. Find graphics – keep track of where they
came from. Or design your own.
8. Choose appropriate colors and fonts.
OR immerse
yourself in a given
data set (option 1)

4. 1. Come up with a question.
2. Research that question with data sets or
other resources (keep track of citations).
3. Identify the type of infographic that best
suits that question.
4. Clarify your objective and find a focus.
5. Explore free infographic creation sites and
identify the site that you’ll use to create
your infographic.
6. Hand sketch the infographic.
7. Find graphics – keep track of where they
came from. Or design your own.
8. Choose appropriate colors and fonts.

5. Q:
Does having children hurt
female academic’s careers?

6. 1. Come up with a question.
2. Research that question with data sets or
other resources (keep track of citations).
3. Identify the type of infographic that best
suits that question.
4. Clarify your objective and find a focus.
5. Explore free infographic creation sites and
identify the site that you’ll use to create
your infographic.
6. Hand sketch the infographic.
7. Find graphics – keep track of where they
came from. Or design your own.
8. Choose appropriate colors and fonts.

7. To research:
• average age that female academics are when they
give birth (vs. non-academic population)
• number of female vs. male full professors
• the “baby penalty”: missed opportunities and
time
• effect on average salaries of female vs. male
professors
• sciences vs. humanities?

8. 1. Come up with a question.
2. Research that question with data sets or
other resources (keep track of citations).
3. Identify the type of infographic that best
suits that question.
4. Clarify your objective and find a focus.
5. Explore free infographic creation sites and
identify the site that you’ll use to create
your infographic.
6. Hand sketch the infographic.
7. Find graphics – keep track of where they
came from. Or design your own.
8. Choose appropriate colors and fonts.

9. OR?

10. 1. Come up with a question.
2. Research that question with data sets or
other resources (keep track of citations).
3. Identify the type of infographic that best
suits that question.
4. Clarify your objective and find a focus.
5. Explore free infographic creation sites and
identify the site that you’ll use to create
your infographic.
6. Hand sketch the infographic.
7. Find graphics – keep track of where they
came from. Or design your own.
8. Choose appropriate colors and fonts.

11. Objective/focus: Women
in academia are penalized
for having babies.