- https://abcnews.go.com/US/shark-attacks-told-graphs/story?id=31779076
- In this article, the authors discuss the data of shark attacks where they’re most common, who is most likely to be attacked, and what kinds of sharks are most likely to attack. Although ABC News collected the data from the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida, I’m not necessarily trusting of the way the article was written, just because ABC News serves as a secondary source.
- There was a note under one of the graphs within this article, saying that the ‘list,’ meaning the data included, should be analyzed carefully. The study showed that sharks that are most easily identified have the highest rate of attacks, which points to the difficulty of identifying sharks while being attacked by one. Victims are not able to make sufficient observations while under attack when their fight or flight mode is activated. This article is also written from older data, which could’ve or could not have skewed the data a bit.
- If I could revisualize this data, I would create a new study of shark behavior and attacks. I would simply study shark attacks in most recent years, and see if I could come up with more data to solidify the argument.
Genre and Imagination
ENG 201-05, Fall 2020 with Prof. Olivia Wood. Optional synchronous sessions Mondays at 10:50
1. The materials from this weeks’s class changed my way of thinking about data because it made me realize just how easy it is to be lied to. To elaborate, members of the media would often times use inaccurate scaling in their graphs in order to mislead the public.
2. I would first try to fact check it. I do this by searching for more information on the topic, that can confirm the information is true or false. When it comes to signs that I look for, I just try my hardest to stay away from sources that have a reputation pf being biased, and I would also stay away from social media.Reference