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T.3-4: Misleading graphs


A graph helps visualize a large amount of data, but it can also be misleading. But cheating is not the same as lying because the graph can deceive the reader without the conscious intervention of its designer: a deceitful graph can be built by accumulating errors or approximations. However, some people may be suspected of violating the duties of ethical conduct.

Visual manipulation:

How concerned are you about the Zika virus?

I chose this graphic which is produced by a local news station NBC 2 in Florida in 2016 , they surveyed its viewers concerning their reflections on the Zika virus.
It’s obvious that they really wanted to make this graph appear as if people weren't worried about Zika virus. We can see that the percentages and the graph heights don't match which presents a kind of visual manipulation.

False correlations:
As we all know correlation can be measured by the Pearson coefficient r which detects the presence or absence of a linear relationship between two continuous X and Y variables. The fact that two variables are "highly correlated" does not demonstrate that there is a causal relationship between the two.

The following graph presents a funny example of high correlation between chocolate consumption and the number of Nobel laureates per 10 million populations:            




















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