Question

How does a truncated bar graph misrepresent the data?

Answer 1

One of the easiest ways to misrepresent the data is by messing with the y-axis of a bar graph. In most cases, the y-axis ranges from 0 to a maximum value that encompasses the range of the data. However, sometimes we change the range to better highlight the differences. Taken to an extreme, this technique can make differences in data seem much larger than they are.These graphs can create the impression of important change where there is relatively little change.Truncated graphs are useful in illustrating small differences.

REGUalAR BAR GRAPH

TRUNCATED BAR GRAPH

Both of these graphs display identical data; however, in the truncated bar graph on the left, the data appear to show significant differences, whereas in the regular bar graph on the right, these differences are hardly visible.