Methods of Manipulation through Visualizing Data in Today''s Media
The article examines the main methods for graphical data representation used by media. In order to influence the audience, these data are often presented incorrectly. Often, these examples can be seen on TV, as images with graphics change rather quickly and the audience, provided with insufficient time for a detailed examination of the information, is forced to agree with the conclusions proposed by the media. However, illustrations intentionally or accidentally misleading unprepared reader are often found even in print media. Sometimes, author of the material, not perfectly versed in the matter, makes incorrect conclusions from various charts or graphs by mistake. Thus, the analysis of the methods of manipulation with the data not only allows finding an error in different materials of the media, but helps researchers to get the correct graphical data themselves as well. The author analyzes a number of examples and explains what needs to be changed to obtain graphics, which is correct in terms of statistics. The article concludes that despite the fact that the presence of a variety of data in graphic form makes the provided material more obvious and justified, critical approach to this kind of information is necessary.