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So this complains about not including the 0 on the y-axis but then complains about it in the national review global temp chart. If you have an agenda it will
by eanzenberg 11y ago
So this complains about not including the 0 on the y-axis but then complains about it in the national review global temp chart.
If you have an agenda it will show through, regardless of what you do. Both graphs accurately portray the data, but most of the public doesn't care to interpret graphs objectively.
- icegreentea 11y agoYou'll notice that in his 'best version' of the education chart, the y axis also does not start at zero. More precisely, the point he made was that _column_ charts should always start at 0. He makes no blanket statements about line graphs to show trending. Also technically any graph that isn't numerically wrong is a problem of the public not taking care.
- contrast 11y agoTechnically according to what rule?
- jmuyskens 11y agoBar charts use length to show amount while line charts use slope to show change. Therefore, it is misleading to cut off the y-axis for a bar chart, but not for a line chart so long as slopes are transformed proportionally. For line charts, it is generally best to constrain the y-axis such that change (keeping in mind the precision of the data) can be discerned. Of course, if zero happens to be meaningful, it could be illuminating to include and annotate it, just as you would any other relevant point of reference. However, in the case of the temperature chart, zero degrees fahrenheit is arbitrary. Ask yourself, why not zero degrees kelvin? Agenda will show through. Hopefully, in data viz, your agenda is scientific/statistical accuracy.