With more and more information available and easy to access through the internet, I rely more on simple graphics and numbers instead of reading the entire article or the original paper of the conducted research. Especially during the pandemic, I would turn on the news or open a web browser and see line charts, bar graphs, and graphics representing the number of cases or deaths almost every day. This made it an easy way for me to get my daily information of the current situation, but at the same time, I had little doubt in the presented graphs.
What are the axes? How are the axes scaled? How are the labels defined? Who manipulated the data? Where did the numbers come from in the first place?
After looking at the gallery of images of “The Lie Factor,” I realized how easy it is to take advantage of the power of visualizations to convey distorted information. Having disproportionate scales might be something people can look out for by checking the numbers. However, labeling the axis points at unequal intervals was not something I had thought about before. People with deceitful intentions can take advantage of graphing tools to show misleading patterns in the data.
For my project, I want to focus on the accessibility of the graphs by making them easy to understand. At the same time, I want to make sure that the audience also receives enough information to make an informed interpretation of the data on their own. In addition to the graph itself, I want to consider ways to add contextual information without overcrowding the graphs. Raw data are too complicated and carry too much information, while simple, graphically manipulated data gives it much more chances for misinformation. Finding the middle ground might be a challenge in making sure I responsibly utilize the power of data visualization.
