Visual Displays of Data - Cautions and Misleading Graphics

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers common ways visual displays of data can be misleading, including perceptual distortions, scale manipulation, and the interpretation of percentage change graphs.

Perceptual Distortions

Graphics drawn in a way that distorts the viewer's perception, such as using a dollar bill's length to represent value while the viewer's eye focuses on the area, exaggerating the difference.

Axis Scale

The range of values on a graph's axis; changing this can alter the perception of data, especially if the vertical scale does not begin at zero or end at $100\%$.

Nonlinear Scale

A scale in which each increment does not represent the same change in value.

Exponential Scale (Logarithmic Scale)

A type of nonlinear scale that grows by powers, such as powers of $10$, where the powers are shown with exponents.

Linear Scale

A scale where every increment represents the same change in value, contrasting with an exponential scale.

Percentage Change Graphs

Graphs representing the rate of change in data; a decrease in these values indicates that something is increasing by smaller amounts, not that the actual value is decreasing.

Actual Tuition Values

The real dollar amounts for tuition, which can rise annually even when the annual percentage change graph shows a downward trend.

Pictograph

A graph embellished with additional artwork that may distract or mislead, often featuring non-linear horizontal scales or purely decorative information.