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Data & Analytics · Foundational

Misleading Visualization

A chart that distorts the data's message through truncated or inconsistent axes, inappropriate scales, cherry-picked ranges or area distortion.

Definition

Common issues include truncated bar axes, dual axes with manipulated scales, unequal intervals, 3-D distortion and omitted context. Ethical visualization presents data truthfully.

Exam tip

Expect to identify the misleading element in a chart: truncated y-axis, inconsistent intervals or a cherry-picked time window.

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