Statistics and Graphing

One of the disturbing uses of statistics in the media is taking statistical information and displaying the information in an exaggerated manner to trick the reader into a certain point of view. On pages 100-103 of your textbook, pick one of the following problems: 1, 2, 3a, 4a, 5, 6, 7a, 8, 9, 13, or 15. Discuss how the graph is misleading. Why might the graph's creator have made the graph this way? How could the graph be improved to show the information in an unbiased manner? Do you think it is unethical to portray information in this way? Why or why not?

2. Burning Calories The following is a USA Today-type graph. Steps Needed to Burn Calories Soda Cheeseburger MAIN Beer 7,590 Doughnut 12 oz. beer 12 oz. soda 5,750 3,220 3,450 (a) Explain how it is misleading. (b) What could be done to improve the graphic