The problem with diagrams is that they can only present limited information. Oftentimes, tables are needed to provide more detailed information. Diagrams do play an important role, but they can prevent the reader from analyzing the data further if it is not included with the diagram.
Multiple data fields cannot always be presented via a simple diagram or flow chart. This makes it hard to present numerous characteristics from a data set. Diagrams may misrepresent the data if only some aspects of the data are cherrypicked to illustrate a particular viewpoint. This sometimes happens in the media when conscious or unconscious bias influences how a story is presented to the public. This link offers a few notable examples of how diagrams have been used to mislead the public.
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How Can Diagrams be Used More Effectively?
There are many different types of diagrams, so it’s important to select the right one when presenting data.
Flow charts are often used in project management, to show the lifecycle of a project and the tasks involved at each stage.
Bar charts and line graphs are popular ways to present data pictorially. These are commonly used in business to show financial data in a meaningful way, such as interest rate rises and falls, unemployment trends, and historical values of the Dollar or Pound. They can be used to illustrate positive and negative data trends.
