Infographic Design Research & Evidence-Based Practice 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which axis manipulation technique makes a small difference appear dramatic in an infographic chart?
- Using a logarithmic scale
- Truncating the Y-axis to start above zero (Correct answer)
- Adding a second Y-axis
- Extending the X-axis beyond the data range
Correct answer: Truncating the Y-axis to start above zero
Truncating the Y-axis exaggerates visual differences between values, making minor variations look large and misleading viewers about the actual magnitude of change.
Question 2: In evidence hierarchy, where do systematic reviews and meta-analyses rank?
- At the bottom, as they are secondhand
- In the middle, below individual experiments
- At the top, as the strongest form of synthesized evidence (Correct answer)
- They are not part of the evidence hierarchy
Correct answer: At the top, as the strongest form of synthesized evidence
Systematic reviews synthesize all available high-quality research on a topic, and meta-analyses statistically combine results, making them the highest tier of evidence.
Question 3: What is 'cherry-picking' in the context of infographic data selection?
- Choosing the most colorful chart type
- Selecting only data points that support a predetermined conclusion while ignoring contradictory evidence (Correct answer)
- Using fruit-related metaphors in data visualization
- Prioritizing data from agricultural industries
Correct answer: Selecting only data points that support a predetermined conclusion while ignoring contradictory evidence
Cherry-picking distorts the overall picture by presenting a favorable subset of data as representative of the whole, which misleads viewers.
Question 4: A researcher reports p < 0.05 in a study cited by an infographic. What does this indicate?
- The effect size is large enough to be practically meaningful
- There is less than a 5% probability the results occurred by chance (Correct answer)
- The study used fewer than 5% of available participants
- The cost of the study was under 5% of the research budget
Correct answer: There is less than a 5% probability the results occurred by chance
A p-value below 0.05 means statistical significance — the probability of observing these results by random chance alone is less than 5%.
Question 5: When an infographic presents a '40% increase,' what additional context is MOST critical for accurate interpretation?
- The font used to display the number
- The baseline value from which the increase is calculated (Correct answer)
- The designer's name and portfolio link
- The color used to highlight the statistic
Correct answer: The baseline value from which the increase is calculated
A 40% increase from a base of 10 equals 4 units, while 40% from a base of 1,000 equals 400 units — without the baseline, the statistic is meaningless.
Question 6: Which approach is MOST appropriate when an infographic designer cannot verify the accuracy of a statistic found on a popular website?
- Use the statistic but add a disclaimer at the bottom
- Trace the claim back to its original source and verify it there (Correct answer)
- Remove the statistic and replace it with an approximation
- Use the statistic since the website is widely read
Correct answer: Trace the claim back to its original source and verify it there
Tracing statistics to their original source — the actual study or dataset — is the only way to verify accuracy and avoid amplifying misinformation.
Question 7: What is 'anecdotal evidence' and why is it considered weak in infographic research?
- Data collected anonymously from surveys
- A personal story or isolated incident used to support a general claim (Correct answer)
- Evidence presented in a narrative infographic format
- Statistics drawn from historical records
Correct answer: A personal story or isolated incident used to support a general claim
Anecdotal evidence reflects individual experience rather than systematic study, making it unreliable for drawing conclusions about broader populations or trends.
Infographic Design Research & Evidence-Based Practice 4
Which axis manipulation technique makes a small difference appear dramatic in an infographic chart?