How to Lie with Graphs – Education & Teacher Conferences Skip to main content

How to Lie with Graphs

AdobeStock_40302700_Credit

A handy video from Ted Education gives some pointers on spotting misleading graphs. Pay close attention to their warnings about meddling with the y-axis. Believe it or not, this sort of thing happens frequently in the world of science publishing.

(If you’re interested in visual representation of data, I encourage you to look up the work of Edward Tufte. He’s written some amazing books, and is a fun and provocative thinker.)

One note about the Ted Ed video: its has clear political leanings–so clear, in fact, that I’ve hesitated in linking to it. I hope that you will watch it, because its suggestions are both both important and useful.  Rest assured: my goal is not to sway your political views, but to give you a helpful tool in analyzing scientific information.


Recent Blogs

From Facts to Application: The Surprising Power of Repeated Retrieval
Andrew Watson
Andrew Watson

The more time you've spent in Learning and the Brain...

From Lab to Life: Testing Study Strategies with 2,500+ Real Students
Andrew Watson
Andrew Watson

Research-based conclusions often appeal to us because of their tidy...

Research Reality Check: ‘More Is Better’ Doesn’t Always Apply to Learning Strategies
Andrew Watson
Andrew Watson

We've got lots of strong research suggesting that drawing can...