You've learned to be skeptical of misleading charts and the classic "correlation equals causation" fallacy. Now let's practice spotting these data illusions before they can fool you.
Engagement Message
Are you ready to sharpen your illusion-detecting skills?
Type
Swipe Left or Right
Practice Question
Let's review the basics of good vs. bad charts. Swipe left for "Good Practice" and right for "Misleading Trick."
Labels
- Left Label: Good Practice
- Right Label: Misleading Trick
Left Label Items
- Y-axis starts at 0
- Clear labels and legend
- Data source is cited
Right Label Items
- Truncated Y-axis
- No source for the data
- Cherry-picked time frame
Type
Fill In The Blanks
Markdown With Blanks
Fill in the blanks to correctly identify the data relationship.
A chart shows that as the number of pirates in the world decreased, global temperatures increased. This is an example of [[blank:correlation]], not [[blank:causation]], as there is no plausible mechanism connecting the two.
Suggested Answers
- correlation
- causation
- a mistake
- an outlier
Type
Multiple Choice
Practice Question
A bar chart shows company profits. Bar A is three times taller than Bar B. However, the Y-axis labels show Bar A is 10.2M.
What trick is most likely being used here?
A. Correlation error B. Truncated axis C. Missing legend D. Confounding variable
Suggested Answers
- A
- B - Correct
- C
- D
Type
Sort Into Boxes
Practice Question
Sort these pairs of variables into the correct boxes based on their likely relationship.
Labels
- First Box Label: Likely Causal
- Second Box Label: Likely Correlated
First Box Items
- Rain & Wet Streets
- Studying & Test Scores
Second Box Items
- Shoe Size & Reading Level
- Storks & Birth Rates
Type
Multiple Choice
Practice Question
A study finds that people who floss regularly live longer. The media reports, "Flossing adds years to your life!"
What is the most likely explanation for the study's findings?
A. Flossing directly causes increased longevity. B. People who floss are generally more health-conscious, which is the real cause. C. This is just a random coincidence with no meaning. D. The study must have been funded by a dental floss company.
Suggested Answers
- A
- B - Correct
- C
- D
