Greatest Visual Storytelling Sin: Statistical Lies

While a little lie here or there causes no harm, lying in something as important as statistics is a big issue. Humans are hardwired to trust others, especially if what they are being told aligns with their personal beliefs. People often believe statistics without doing their own research or giving it additional thought. This is a problem, because then people are getting the wrong information or understanding of things. It is so important to give an accurate graph or graphic that doesn’t mislead the viewer. 

So what are the different ways these statistics could be wrong? A graphic isn’t always correct if it has accurate numbers. There are many other ways it can still be misleading. 

To start, flawed correlations can be a big issue. Correlation does not always mean causation, meaning that because two things may seem connected, it does not mean that one causes the other. Additionally, correlations can be forced, since “if you measure enough variables, eventually it will appear that some of them correlate.”

Another way statistics can be misleading is through data fishing, which assumes the existence of data relationships and these studies often have outlandish findings. This leads to a confused public that is hearing different information from different studies saying opposite things.

In addition to choosing accurate data for infographics, it is important that the data is also unbiased, whether that be purposeful or selective. Also, when creating graphics, it is important to think about how they are represented. Some graphics may have completely accurate and unbiased data but can be presented in a way that results in the data being perceived differently than it should be. 

When telling a story through visual means with statistics, there are so many ways to mislead the viewer. It is important when making them yourself, or viewing others, to be very critical of the data, its source, and how it is presented. Otherwise, misinformation, confusion, and division will spread. 

Sources:

Esteban, Chiqui. “A Quick Guide to Spotting Graphics That Lie.” Science, National Geographic, 3 May 2021, www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/150619-data-points-five-ways-to-lie-with-charts.

“Misleading Statistics & Data – News Examples For Misuse of Statistics.” Datapine, 15 July 2020, www.datapine.com/blog/misleading-statistics-and-data/.

“Vision Statement: How to Lie with Charts.” Harvard Business Review, 5 Dec. 2014, hbr.org/2014/12/vision-statement-how-to-lie-with-charts.