Displaying Data
Displaying Data
Misleading Graphs
The most important thing to do when given a graph of data is to interpret the data. Sometimes graphs are made in an attempt to mislead the reader. They are often used to prove a point, and can easily be twisted in favor of that point. These misleading graphs are often used in the media to help a certain group to win over people for their cause.
The following is a list of ways to make a graph misleading:
- The scale is too narrow or there is not a big enough range. Data looks like it has a big difference when really it does not.
- There is no scale at all.
- The bars are not equal widths.
- The intervals on the graph are not equal, but are depicted as equal.
- There is missing information.