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click to enlarge
Consider these two charts.
Look at the chart on the left. Pie charts are not a very good idea at all. There is research evidence to show that we find it difficult to perceive proportion when displayed around a circle. In this case, splitting up the pie, making it 3-D and adding a 45 degree viewing angle renders it almost impossible to see what is happening
To these problems, we may add font sizes generated automatically by the computer within the spreadsheet that become far too small when copied and pasted into a slide or report. The version on the right is much clearer if a little less glamorous!
Now look at the next pair of charts.
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click to enlarge
Spreadsheet graphics applications have encouraged us to use 3-dimensional charts. In the bar chart on the left, the three dimensional effect simply adds a degree of uncertainty as to where the top of the bar actually is. The background adds to the uncertainty, as do the gaps between the bars. Add to this, the problems of the previous chart in terms of inappropriate font sizes generated automatically, and the result may be best described as “suboptimal”. The version on the right is less immediately appealing but again communicates more clearly.
Finally, in case you thought it couldn't get any worse, here's my attempt at the worst possible representation of this data:
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In addition to the problems raised with the first two charts, which this chart shares, we may add two further problems. One is the use of a false origin at 30000, which exaggerates the differences, and the second is the plotting of a trend based on discrete data. Students do not join the University continuously but at the start of a year, or in a few cases, a semester, therefore plotting a trend is misleading.
