The Big Pictures.

Sociological literature normally feature so many words and numbers, but few pictures. Given sociology's complex subject matter and frequently imprecise ideas, much more visual representation of arguments and findings are expected. The best example of such writing is sociologist Edward Tufte's book "The Visual Display of Quantitative Information." What is to be sought in designs for the display of information is the clear portrayal of complexity. Tufte uses various ways through which graphs can represent complex numerical relationships by using good design. Although Tufte makes no claims about photographs, drawings, maps, and other representations of concrete objects, presumably simple principles apply to them. An apt illustration conveys a complicated pattern quickly and substitutes for the many words or numbers than the description of that pattern would otherwise require. Professional sociology, for all its concern with places, activities, and people, boasts precious few examples of effective integration between words and pictures. Although photographs adorn sociological textbooks, critic Douglas Harper complains, these are the worst places to look when considering how to use photographs in research. The relationship between text and images in sociological books are generally casual according to Harper.