Statistics Chapter 2 Producing Data and Graphs

Misuse: Misleading Graphs

CNN/USA Today Gallup poll on Terri Schiavo (March 2005)

CNN/USA Today Gallup poll on Terri Schiavo (March 2005) Reprinted

Misuse: Pictographs

Misuse: Loaded Questions “Should the President have the line item veto to eliminate waste?” (97% said yes: ) “Should the President have the line item veto?” (57% said yes: )

Displaying Data

Suppose that you are looking for a summer job and you see an advertisement for a company that says that current salaries are significantly higher than they were just two years ago. The ad shows this graph: What impression do you get from the graph about the improvement in salaries?

Here is a true story. In the latter 1990’s a well-known brokerage company wanted to make the point that Americans were not saving enough money for the future and included the graphs in one of its newsletters” How much did Americans save in the 1990’s compared to the 1980’s?

Group Work Find an interesting graphical display of data and explain what you believe the main point the author was trying to have readers believe. Find another graphical display that incorrectly displays the data BE Prepared to present both in 20 minutes… .using an iPad ( 1 – 2 minute presentation)