1. Misleading Graphs

2. Looking for Misleading Data or Graphs
Here are some things to check as you decide if a graph is misleading:
Is one of the axes extended or shortened compared to the other?
Are there misleading breaks in an axis?
Are all the parts of the graph labeled clearly?
Does the axis include zero if necessary?

3. Explain why this graph may be inaccurate or may misrepresent the data.
This graph is misleading because it does not total 100%

4. Do both graphs represent the same set of data
Do both graphs represent the same set of data? Explain why one of the graphs may be misleading.
The graphs represent the same data, but the starting points and the intervals skew the data.

5. Which graph would portray a decreasing crime rate
Which graph would portray a decreasing crime rate? Are these graphs truly portraying the same information?

6. BOSSMAN INC.
Employee Salaries
CEO/Owner
$202,000
Vice-President
$65,000
Supervisor
$35,000
Custodian
$21,000
Assembly Worker
$22,000
Secretary
$25,000
Help Wanted: Come work for Bossman, Inc. where the average employee salary is $56,000.
Would the average be the most accurate way to represent the data? Justify your answer.

7. Types of Sampling Bias Faulty sampling (Sample is not representative)
A bias is a flaw in the sampling procedure that makes it more likely that the sample will not be representative of the population.
Faulty sampling (Sample is not representative)
Leading questions (Questions are worded so as to influence the answers)
Faulty interviewing (Failure to interview the entire sample, misreading questions, misinterpreting what was said)
Lack of understanding or knowledge (Person being interviewed does not understand or does not have the information needed)
False answers (Person being interviewed intentionally gives incorrect information)

8. PS3 vs. Xbox 360
“We interviewed a sample of players on our PS3 site. Thus it is with some surprise and much delight that we find that the majority of players (surveyed) who are planning on buying GTA IV, are opting to do so on PS3. Of those polled, 49% are choosing the PS3 version, where as a meager 46% will be buying the one for the Xbox 360. Only 6% have decided not to buy it; we assume they’re Wii owners”.
Explain why there may be a sampling error involved with the collection and representation of this data.

9. Possible Answers
The sample space is too small and is biased. They only interviewed gamers on a PS3 website.
The data is also intentionally skewed. The graph doesn’t start at 0, to make the difference between the two systems to look more significant.