What is normalization?
Usually, when you normalize something you're turning it into a fraction. Normalization is the process of taking a count and dividing it by something else in order to make a number more comparable or to put it in context. When you normalize data you eliminate the units of measurement for data, enabling you to compare data from different places.
TL;DR
Normalize data for easier comparisons or to provide context and to show rates rather than raw numbers.
Example of Normalization
Let’s say you are comparing unemployment numbers in different cities.
To compare Kansas City’s unemployment rate to St. Louis’s, divide the Kansas City unemployment number by the potential working population in the city. This way, instead of showing unemployment as 38,000 people, you get a rate of 3.3%, which can be compared to St. Louis’s 52,000 people at 3.6%.
Raw numbers don’t provide the necessary context for an accurate comparison. While St. Louis may appear to have higher unemployment, the normalized rates reveal the differences aren’t as large as they first seem.
How to Normalize
With mySidewalk Data
Normalization in mySidewalk allows you to easily adjust data for context.
Find Normalization Options:
In Maps: Select data for your map, then go to Data> Edit Data Styling > More Options to find normalization options.
In other data components: Select data for your chart, then under the Data tab, click the dropdown under "Normalize by."
Select the normalizer you want to use.
Common options include Total Population, Total Households, Total Area (acres), and Total Area (Sq Miles). For some data, mySidewalk may provide additional options that better suit the data. For example, employment data may show "Working Population 16 and Over" as an option.
Set the number format to Ratio as Percent.
Selecting Ratio as Percent multiplies the number by 100. Most of the time, when you normalize you're looking to create a percent. Changing the number format this way takes the fraction you've created, and turns it into a percent.
Do not do this if you are looking to find the density of something, such as Total Population per Square Mile.
Pro Tip: When working with poverty data, use “Population with Poverty Status Determined” instead of Total Population, as it excludes groups for whom poverty status is not measured (e.g., individuals in college dormitories, military barracks).
For more information, visit the Census guidance on poverty measures.
With Uploaded Data
To normalize your uploaded data with mySidewalk data:
Georeference your data during upload to ensure it aligns with a geographic region. Learn more about georeferencing.
Once uploaded and georeferenced, you can apply mySidewalk’s normalization tools to your data.