A Common, Categorical Misinterpretation of Bar Graphs: Readout-based Measurement Reveals the Bar-tip Limit Error

Mapping Intimacies ◽

10.31219/osf.io/ng9dz ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sarah Horan Kerns ◽

Jeremy Bennet Wilmer

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Mechanisms ◽

Common Error ◽

Educational Levels ◽

Graph Comprehension ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Detailed Record ◽

Bar Graphs

Here, we make three contributions to the study of graph cognition. First, we introduce a framework for measuring graph comprehension via the elicitation of a readout: a relatively concrete and detailed record of thought. Second, we create a flexible new readout-based measure, called Draw Datapoints on Graphs (DDoG), to assess the comprehension of graphs that abstract away from their raw, underlying data. Third, using this new measure, we identify a common error in the interpretation of bar graphs of means. The error we identify is an apparent conflation of bar graphs of means with bar graphs of counts. It occurs when the raw underlying data is assumed to be limited by, rather than spread across, the bar-tip. We therefore call it the Bar-Tip Limit Error (BTLE). In a large, demographically diverse sample, we observe BTLE in about one in five persons, across educational levels, ages, and genders, and despite thoughtful responding and relevant foundational knowledge. The identification of BTLE provides a case-in-point that simplification via abstraction can risk severe, high-prevalence misinterpretation. DDoG reveals the nature and likely cognitive mechanisms of BTLE with an ease that speaks both to DDoG’s value as a measure of graph comprehension and, more broadly, to the efficacy of our readout-focused framework. We conclude that bar graphs of means may be misinterpreted by a large proportion of the population, and that readout-focused measurement holds promise for accelerating the study of graph cognition.

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Illiteracy and dementia

Dementia & Neuropsychologia ◽

10.1590/s1980-57642010dn40300002 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

pp. 153-157 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Sonia Maria Dozzi Brucki

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Disease Risk ◽

Cognitive Tests ◽

Educational Levels ◽

Search Terms ◽

Cognitive Evaluation ◽

Pubmed Database ◽

High Prevalence ◽

A Current ◽

Neuropsychological Findings

Abstract There is a current concept that illiteracy and lower educational levels are risk factors for cognitive decline and dementia. Our aims were to review the association between illiteracy and dementia; and to describe some results on neuropsychological findings in illiteracy. A literature search of the PubMed database was performed. The search terms were "dementia", "illiteracy", "neuropsychological evaluation", "educational levels", and "education". Only papers published in Portuguese, English, and Spanish were reviewed. Illiteracy is an incontestable risk factor for dementia. It influences performance on almost cognitive tests. Many other factors could be connected to the high prevalence of dementia among illiterates: low cognitive reserve, poor control of cerebrovascular disease risk factors, difficulties in cognitive evaluation, and poor adaptation of neuropsychological tests for this specific population. Functional tests must be coupled with cognitive tests to ameliorate diagnostic accuracy.

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Underweight and overweight among children in Zahedan, south-east Iran

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980010000388 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 13 (10) ◽

pp. 1519-1521 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Mohsen Maddah ◽

Touran Shahraki ◽

Mansour Shahraki

Keyword(s):

Primary School ◽

School Children ◽

Maternal Education ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Primary School Children ◽

Rapid Weight Gain ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Poor Growth ◽

Educational Levels ◽

High Prevalence

AbstractObjectiveThe present study examined the prevalence of underweight and overweight in a group of primary-school children in Zahedan, south-east Iran.DesignA cross-sectional study in a randomly selected population of schoolchildren.SettingPrimary-school children in Zahedan city.SubjectsA random sample of 1079 students (boys = 500 and girls = 579). Data on child’s age, parental educational levels, body weight and height were collected.ResultsThe rate of overweight/obesity among boys and girls was 8·9 % and 10·3 %, respectively; and of underweight among boys and girls was 22·8 % and 19·9 %, respectively. Prevalence of overweight increased as the boys and girls approached adolescence and it was more prevalent among girls than boys. Prevalence of overweight was directly related to maternal education in this population.ConclusionsHigh prevalence of underweight in young children as well as increase in the prevalence of overweight in girls and boys near adolescence are of concern. Early poor growth and subsequent rapid weight gain near to adolescent stage is related to adulthood obesity.

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Biasing and debiasing health decisions with bar graphs: Costs and benefits of graph literacy

Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology ◽

10.1177/1747021817744546 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 71 (12) ◽

pp. 2506-2519 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yasmina Okan ◽

Rocio Garcia-Retamero ◽

Edward T Cokely ◽

Antonio Maldonado

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Health Policy ◽

Blood Glucose ◽

Risk Communication ◽

Costs And Benefits ◽

Cognitive Mechanisms ◽

Graph Design ◽

Data Points ◽

Equidistant Points ◽

Bar Graphs

Bar graphs can improve risk communication in medicine and health. Unfortunately, recent research has revealed that bar graphs are associated with a robust bias that can lead to systematic judgement and decision-making errors. When people view bar graphs representing means, they tend to believe that data points located within bars are more likely to be part of the underlying distributions than equidistant points outside bars. In three experiments, we investigated potential consequences, key cognitive mechanisms, and generalisability of the within-the-bar bias in the medical domain. We also investigated the effectiveness of different interventions to reduce the effect of this bias and protect people from errors. Results revealed that the within-the-bar bias systematically affected participants’ judgements and decisions concerning treatments for controlling blood glucose, as well as their interpretations of ecological graphs designed to guide health policy decisions. Interestingly, individuals with higher graph literacy showed the largest biases. However, the use of dot plots to replace bars improved the accuracy of interpretations. Perceptual mechanisms underlying the within-the-bar bias and prescriptive implications for graph design are discussed.

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Vitamin D deficiency and its correlation with pregnancy outcome

International Journal of Reproduction Contraception Obstetrics and Gynecology ◽

10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20201211 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 1493

Author(s):

Maya Menon ◽

Sridevi T. A. ◽

Thuthi Mohan ◽

Aruna B. Patil

Keyword(s):

Vitamin D ◽

Vitamin D Deficiency ◽

Fetal Outcome ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Educational Levels ◽

High Risk Factors ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Nicu Admission ◽

Adverse Fetal Outcome

Background: There is a growing concern about the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its relationship with variety of diseases worldwide. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its association with pregnancy outcome.Methods: This was a cross sectional study conducted among 150 antenatal women from October 2014 to April 2015. Data containing socio-demographic details, vitamin D level, serum calcium, pregnancy complications and growth situation of newborns were collected and analyzed.Results: A total 150 pregnant women participated in the study, 75.3% were vitamin D deficient, 22.1% vitamin D insufficient and 2.6% normal. There was no significant adverse maternal outcome. NICU admission was required in 28.3 and 15.2% in the vitamin D deficient and insufficient groups respectively.Conclusions: Women from different socioeconomic status, irrespective of parity and educational levels had vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency. This study fails to show a relation of vitamin D deficiency with other high-risk factors of pregnancy and does not show any adverse fetal outcome.

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The bottleneck may be the solution, not the problem

Behavioral and Brain Sciences ◽

10.1017/s0140525x15000886 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 39 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Arnon Lotem ◽

Oren Kolodny ◽

Joseph Y. Halpern ◽

Luca Onnis ◽

Shimon Edelman

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Language Acquisition ◽

Recent Theory ◽

Cognitive Mechanisms ◽

Selection Pressures ◽

Biological Trait ◽

Memory Bottleneck

AbstractAs a highly consequential biological trait, a memory “bottleneck” cannot escape selection pressures. It must therefore co-evolve with other cognitive mechanisms rather than act as an independent constraint. Recent theory and an implemented model of language acquisition suggest that a limit on working memory may evolve to help learning. Furthermore, it need not hamper the use of language for communication.

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Bioelectronic Measurement of Nasality in Trainable Mentally Retarded Children

Journal of Speech and Hearing Disorders ◽

10.1044/jshd.4203.436 ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 42 (3) ◽

pp. 436-439 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

David A. Daly

Keyword(s):

Mentally Retarded ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Mentally Retarded Children ◽

Trainable Mentally Retarded

Fifty trainable mentally retarded children were evaluated with TONAR II, a bioelectronic instrument for detecting and quantitatively measuring voice parameters. Results indicated that one-half of the children tested were hypernasal. The strikingly high prevalence of excessive nasality was contrasted with results obtained from 64 nonretarded children and 50 educable retarded children tested with the same instrument. The study demonstrated the need of retarded persons for improved voice and resonance.

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Multiple Perspectives on the Barriers to Identification and Management of Pediatric Voice Disorders

Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups ◽

10.1044/persp2.sig3.49 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2 (3) ◽

pp. 49-56

Author(s):

Jana Childes ◽

Alissa Acker ◽

Dana Collins

Keyword(s):

Academic Success ◽

Voice Disorders ◽

School Personnel ◽

Voice Disorder ◽

Multiple Perspectives ◽

Vocal Qualities ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Pediatric Populations ◽

Low Incidence ◽

University Settings

Pediatric voice disorders are typically a low-incidence population in the average caseload of clinicians working within school and general clinic settings. This occurs despite evidence of a fairly high prevalence of childhood voice disorders and the multiple impacts the voice disorder may have on a child's social development, the perception of the child by others, and the child's academic success. There are multiple barriers that affect the identification of children with abnormal vocal qualities and their access to services. These include: the reliance on school personnel, the ability of parents and caretakers to identify abnormal vocal qualities and signs of misuse, the access to specialized medical services for appropriate diagnosis, and treatment planning and issues related to the Speech-Language Pathologists' perception of their skills and competence regarding voice management for pediatric populations. These barriers and possible solutions to them are discussed with perspectives from the school, clinic and university settings.

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Combining Values

Guides Newsletter ◽

10.1001/amaguidesnewsletters.2002.marapr01 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 1-4, 12 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Christopher R. Brigham

Keyword(s):

Lower Extremity ◽

Upper Extremity ◽

Evaluation Method ◽

Proximal Phalanx ◽

Common Error ◽

The Third ◽

Whole Person ◽

Impairment Ratings ◽

Upper Extremity Impairment ◽

The Individual

Abstract To account for the effects of multiple impairments, evaluating physicians must provide a summary value that combines multiple impairments so the whole person impairment is equal to or less than the sum of all the individual impairment values. A common error is to add values that should be combined and typically results in an inflated rating. The Combined Values Chart in the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, Fifth Edition, includes instructions that guide physicians about combining impairment ratings. For example, impairment values within a region generally are combined and converted to a whole person permanent impairment before combination with the results from other regions (exceptions include certain impairments of the spine and extremities). When they combine three or more values, physicians should select and combine the two lowest values; this value is combined with the third value to yield the total value. Upper extremity impairment ratings are combined based on the principle that a second and each succeeding impairment applies not to the whole unit (eg, whole finger) but only to the part that remains (eg, proximal phalanx). Physicians who combine lower extremity impairments usually use only one evaluation method, but, if more than one method is used, the physician should use the Combined Values Chart.

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