Graphing - Interpretation
To-Do Date: Feb 1 at 12:00pmCorrelation & Causation
When interpreting line graphs, we say that the variables may be either positively correlated (both increase together), negatively correlated (as one goes up, the other goes down), or that there is no correlatoin (an increase in one variable does not affect the other variable).
One important point about interpreting line graphs in which there is a correlation... just because two variables are correlated DOES NOT mean that one variable CAUSED the change in the other.
Does Nicholas Cage appearing in films cause people to drown in swimming pools?
Does per capita cheese consumption cause people to die by entangling themselves in their sheets?
No! Of course not! You can visit this website Links to an external site. (optional) for these and other "spurious" correlations.
It is easy to laugh at the idea that someone would think these correlations imply causation. But what about this one? Does this mean that glyphosate (Roundup) causes autism?
What about this one? Maybe organic food causes autism?
It is important to think critically when consuming graphs such as these. Just because two variables are correlated does NOT mean that a change in one variable CAUSED the change in the other.
Watch this video for more on the importance of considering the relationship between correlation and causation.
How Ice Cream Kills! Correlation vs. Causation
Links to an external site.
Misleading Graphs
Some graphs can be misleading. This may be unintentional, or in some cases graphs may be intentionally misleading to convey a particular message to the viewer. You don't want to be swayed by a graph that is intended to decieve you, do you? Of course not! Let's learn to spot common ways that graphs may be misleading.
How to spot a misleading graph - Lea Gaslowitz
Links to an external site.
You will get more practice making and intepreting graphs over the course of the semester. I hope that by the end of the class, you can be a thoughtful viewer of a graph - understanding quickly what story the data is telling you while being wary of data that may be presented in an intentinally misleading way.
More Resources
Need some more resources and practice with misleading graphs? Check out this optional resource:
Read all content on this page before clicking Next, which will take you to a quiz.