A graph is a visual representation of data. Graphs or charts are often used to send more powerful messages to the reader. But, unfortunately, some graphs deceive or send inaccurate and misleading messages. This leaves the reader(s) with the wrong impression of the significance of the data visualization. As such, when reading, analyzing, and interpreting data visualizations, one ought to consider the type of data visualization used, the scale used, and the characteristics of the data presented. This paper will delve into discussing how graphs can be constructed to present information inaccurately.
There are several ways graphs can be constructed to display information inaccurately. The first way involves omitting the baselines. Usually, the baseline for bar graphs is 0. However, in some cases, researchers skew the way data is perceived by using a different baseline other than 0. This is referred to as a “truncated graph.” This is illustrated in Figure 1.
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Figure 1: (a) Control Graph. (b) Truncated Graph
Source: Yang et al. (2019)
The baseline of the two graphs is different. Graph A is correct since its baseline or vertical axis starts at 0, whereas graph B is misleading since its vertical axis starts at 16. Starting the vertical axis at 16 makes a small difference between the groups seem massive. The travel booking for Malta seems much larger than the travel bookings for Portugal, Greece, and Cyprus. Starting the baseline at 0, as seen in graph A, offers a more accurate depiction. The difference between the groups does not seem as dramatic.
Another way in which graphs can be constructed to present information inaccurately is to use the wrong graph. The type of data visualization used depends on the type of data to be visualized. Using the wrong type of data visualization can skew the data. For example, one can use a pie chart instead of a bar graph to represent the difference between groups. This is illustrated in Figure 2. Pie charts are often to compare parts of a whole, whereas bar graphs are better for showing the differences between groups.
Figure 2: Using the Wrong Graph
Source: McCready (2020).
References
McCready, R. (2020). 5 ways writers use misleading graphs to manipulate you [Infographic]. https://venngage.com/blog/misleading-graphs/
Yang, B. W., Restrepo, C. V., & Stanley, M. (2019). The Misleading Effect of Truncating Bar Graphs.
