Limitations of Diagrammatic Presentation

"All that glitters is not gold!" ✨

Diagrams are beautiful, but they have limitations. You can't run a business just by looking at pictures!

Limitations 🚫

1. Approximate Values

• Diagrams show approximate ideas, not exact figures.
• Example: In a bar chart, you can see sales are "around 500", but table tells you exactly "498.5".
• Rule: Use tables for analysis, diagrams for visual appeal.

2. Limited Information

• Cannot show too many details.
• Example: A table can show 20 columns of data. A diagram with 20 bars looks like a mess!

3. Can be Misleading

• False Impression: By changing the scale, small differences can look huge.
• Truncated Axis: Starting Y-axis from 50 instead of 0 exaggerates changes.
• Example:
  • Sales: 100 vs 102.
  • If Y-axis starts at 0: Bars look equal.
  • If Y-axis starts at 99: Second bar looks double the first!

4. Time Consuming

• Drawing neat diagrams takes more time than typing a table.
• Requires drawing skills (or software).

5. Not Suitable for Further Analysis

• You cannot calculate Mean, SD, or Correlation from a diagram easily.
• Mathematical treatment is limited.

6. Subjective Interpretation

• Different people may interpret a diagram differently.
• Visual illusions can confuse the viewer.

Common Tricks to Mislead (Beware!) ⚠️

1. Stretching the Scale: Making a flat line look steep.
2. 3D Effects: 3D Pie charts distort angles, making front slices look bigger.
3. Omitting Zero: Starting axis from a random number.
4. Cherry Picking: Showing only the part of the graph that goes up.

Summary

• Diagrams are approximate, not exact.
• They show limited details.
• Can be misused to mislead people.
• Not suitable for mathematical analysis.
• Always check the scale and source!

The Bottom Line: Diagrams are great for a quick look, but trust the Table for the real truth! 🧐