Decision Making Assignment

HW2: Graphics Use, Abuse, and Misuse

Developed by: Glenda Chavez, Molly Herbert, Po Huang, William Schorer, and Jeremy Arnaud

Types of Misrepresentations:

Dimensional distortions

Description: Influencing the perception of data by choosing a 2D, 3D or object based representation in order to take advantage of the fact that our brains see difference in amplitude by comparing surface areas.

Figure 2

Here, we can see how on the 3D pie chart the larger portion looks smaller than on the 2D pie chart. Vis Versa, on the 3D bar chart, the smaller bar looks much more important than on the 2D chart.

Examples:

· Articles: https://www.dropbox.com/s/39l695xi739mbbl/7613951.pdf

· http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3A9l6k5LIs

Watch from 7:52-8:51

Scale distortions

Description: Any distortion of the aspect of the graphics by manipulating its axis (truncation of the scale, modification of the scale amplitude).

Figure 3

Here, we can see how the right and left scales have different amplitudes in order to increase the impression of a correlation between the two curves.

Example:

· Example on the website: http://gator.gatewayk12.org/~smcgrail/myweb/powerpoint/misleading_graphs/here_are_some_examples_of_mislea.htm

· Example 2:

http://amspec.s3.amazonaws.com/govspending.jpg

Including too much or too little data

Description: Whether selecting very few data out of a continuum which are not directly related to each other and compare them or including an extreme amount of information on one graphic in order to force the eye on some key numbers extracted from it.

Here, the number of data on the chart is so important that we hardly see that this chart representing “Fatal DUI Crashes” actually includes crashes with a BAC of 0.

Example:

· Last graph on the webpage, “Fatal DUI by State:” http://visual.ly/united-states-drunk-driving-statistics

Figure 4

Photoshop

Description: graphical manipulation in order to bias the perception of the information brought by a picture.

Example:

· Article: http://www.economist.com/news/technology-quarterly/21572915-digital-imaging-insurers-publishers-law-enforcement-agencies-and-dating-sites-are

Video (animated) graphics

Increasingly, information we find on the Internet will be animated to emphasize the author’s intended meaning, which may be done in ways that deliberately manipulate our perceptions. For this assignment, find an example where you think animations were used to distort information to suit the author’s purpose.

Study what’s widely regarded as an excellent use of video animations (~4 mins.):

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00cgkfk

(or the same video is also at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbkSRLYSojo)

Assignment:

· For each of the five types of misuse and abuse of graphics (Dimensions, Data, Scale, Photos, and Video/Animations)

· Find and critically analyze a real-world misuse for each type

· For each of the five misuses you find, label your sections:

· Describe the usage, including URL and/or screenshot

· Deduce the author’s motivation for distorting the information

· Explain how the data could have been more objectively presented

· Discuss how the type of misuse could affect decision-making in a business environment

· Finally, summarize (400-500 words) your insights from this exercise, with respect to improving your own managerial decision-making.

· Insightfully connect the concepts to course topics

· In particular: HW1, the material on critical thinking, and Chapters 2, 3 and 11

· Describe how your new knowledge can help you add more value in workplaces

· Bring hardcopies to turn-in after discussion in class