Graphic Perceptions

Graphs and charts can manipulate audience perception unethically by simple design variations. One can construct two different graphs based on identical data, and give an audience two very different messages.

Altering the range of data used for plotting charts is one way certain information can be either emphasized or de-emphasized. For example, certain trends can either be minimized or maximized on charts depending on how the data is plotted.

The following two bar charts use identical data, but the yearly decline in profits in the top one appears much more severe because of the smaller range of data along the axis.






A writer wanting to make declining profits seem worse might choose the top chart to manipulate unethically the perception of the audience.