Math 5389 Graph Analysis
Project Stat. Math 5389 Graph Analysis# 1Spring , 2012Noemi Bores |
Identifying Misleading Graphs
Graphs are pictorial representations of numbers. Therefore, at the least, we should expect that the representation of the numbers be proportional to the numbers themselves. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. In some cases this occurs because the graph designer wants to give the impression of better performance than is actually the case. In other cases, the designer might not have any numerical sense.
Figure 1. Source: Erickson Times
Figure 1, which appeared in Erickson Times, shows the number of Olympic medals won by country. For Germany, the picture of two medals corresponds to almost 500 medals. Therefore, we would expect the picture of four medals to correspond to almost 1000 medals and the picture of six …show more content…
They are often used to prove a point, and can easily be twisted in favour of that point! The purpose of this section is to learn how to recognize common statisitcal deception so that to avoid being mislead.
Bad Sampling
When you use a sample to represent a larger group, you must make sure that the people in the sample are fairly representative of the larger group.
Example 31.1
Decide whether a mall is a good place to find a sample for a survey about the amount of allowance received by people ages 10 to 15.
Solution.
The mall is probably not a representative place to find a fair sample of people in this age range. Taking a sample at the mall might not represent fairly those people who receive a small allowance, or none
Misleading Graphs
Good graphs are extremely powerful tools for displaying large quantities of complex data; they help turn the realms of information available today into knowledge. But, unfortunately, some graphs deceive or mislead. This may happen because the designer chooses to give readers the impression of
Identifying Misleading Graphs
Graphs are pictorial representations of numbers. Therefore, at the least, we should expect that the representation of the numbers be proportional to the numbers themselves. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. In some cases this occurs because the graph designer wants to give the impression of better performance than is actually the case. In other cases, the designer might not have any numerical sense.
Figure 1. Source: Erickson Times
Figure 1, which appeared in Erickson Times, shows the number of Olympic medals won by country. For Germany, the picture of two medals corresponds to almost 500 medals. Therefore, we would expect the picture of four medals to correspond to almost 1000 medals and the picture of six …show more content…
They are often used to prove a point, and can easily be twisted in favour of that point! The purpose of this section is to learn how to recognize common statisitcal deception so that to avoid being mislead.
Bad Sampling
When you use a sample to represent a larger group, you must make sure that the people in the sample are fairly representative of the larger group.
Example 31.1
Decide whether a mall is a good place to find a sample for a survey about the amount of allowance received by people ages 10 to 15.
Solution.
The mall is probably not a representative place to find a fair sample of people in this age range. Taking a sample at the mall might not represent fairly those people who receive a small allowance, or none
Misleading Graphs
Good graphs are extremely powerful tools for displaying large quantities of complex data; they help turn the realms of information available today into knowledge. But, unfortunately, some graphs deceive or mislead. This may happen because the designer chooses to give readers the impression of