Practice question · Select all that apply
Select every design choice that makes a chart misleading.
Hints
- Ask which choices change the reader's impression without changing the data.
- Two of the options are exactly what honest design recommends.
Show the answer
- A. Using unequal bin widths without saying so
- B. Truncating the vertical axis so small differences look dramatic
- D. Adding 3D effects that distort the apparent size of bars
Why
Truncated axes exaggerate differences, 3D distorts areas, and unequal bins misrepresent frequencies because the eye compares bar areas. Clear labelling and a zero baseline are the honest choices, not the deceptive ones.
Practise Data Visualisation
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