A Bar Graph Compares the Size of the Armed Forces

question 27

Multiple Choice

A bar graph compares the size of the armed forces for China, North Korea, Russia, and the United States. To make the graph look nicer, the artist replaces each bar by a proportionally correct picture of a soldier that is enlarged or reduced to be as tall as the bar. This graph is misleading because

• A) it's the wrong kind of graph. Use a pie chart instead.
• B) it's the wrong kind of graph. Use a scatterplot instead.
• C) China's armed forces are twice as large as those of North Korea, but the choice of vertical scale can change this to half as large or four times as large.
• D) China's armed forces are twice as large as those of North Korea, but the area of China's soldier picture is four times as large as the North Korea picture.

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Definitions:

Qualitative Research

Research that works with nonnumerical data such as texts, field notes, interview transcripts, photographs, and tape recordings; this type of research more often tries to understand how people make sense of their world.

Observing

The act of carefully watching or monitoring something or someone for the purpose of gathering information.

Norms

Norms upheld by a society or group that dictate the expected conduct of its individuals.

Heavy Metal Music

A genre of rock music characterized by loud, aggressive sound, extended guitar solos, and strong rhythms.