Reading and Interpretation of Statistical Graphics by 2nd Year Students of High School

This paper aims to analyze students' understanding about graphs and tables concerning the level of reading that is necessary for them to interpret and communicate information presented through these graphs and tables. A formative assessment attached to a didactic activity was carried out in a class of 29 high school students. The students' production was analyzed according to assumptions of the discursive textual analysis methodology. The results indicated that students recognize that the reading of graphs and tables passes through different levels, which range from literal reading to that which requires the search for implicit information. The students pointed out that certain information was clear in the graph, and they just needed to point them out, whereas other information required students to combine and integrate information so that it could be understood.