A useful data presentation tool: Ternary plots in forensic medicine

Area of Science:

• Forensic Medicine
• Data Visualization
• Medical Statistics

Background:

• Ternary plots are triangle-shaped diagrams for displaying proportions of three categories.
• Their application in medicine, especially forensic medicine, is currently underutilized.
• Effective data presentation is crucial for accurate interpretation in forensic investigations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate ternary plots as a valuable data presentation method in forensic medicine.
• To illustrate the practical application and interpretation of ternary plots.
• To encourage wider adoption of ternary plots in medical and forensic research.

Main Methods:

• Describing the principles of reading and designing ternary plots.
• Providing template files for creating ternary plots.
• Developing example diagrams using real-world forensic data.

Main Results:

• Ternary plots effectively visualize the proportions of three variables in a compact format.
• Demonstrated the utility of ternary plots for analyzing "manner of death in custody" data.
• Provided practical insights into the design and interpretation of these plots.

Conclusions:

• Ternary plots represent an underutilized yet powerful tool for data presentation in forensic medicine.
• Their adoption can enhance the clarity and density of information in forensic reports.
• Further exploration of ternary plots in diverse forensic applications is warranted.