Homework assignment 2:

Basic charts and graphs

1.         Open the website of the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, the page on comparisons of the major religious traditions, the results for frequency of prayer http://religions.pewforum.org/comparisons#. 

Answer the following questions:

a.       What kind of chart is this? 

b.      Is it an appropriate chart for this kind of data?  Why or why not? 

c.       Would either of the other basic types of charts be appropriate?  Why or why not?

d.      What is your evaluation of the chart, besides whether it is appropriate to the data, using the criteria presented in class?  What are its strengths?  What are its weaknesses? 

Write an analysis of the chart, including both your reading of the chart and your interpretation.

2.         Another graph found in the Bureau of Labor Statistics report http://www.bls.gov/cps/cpswom2007.pdf is the following. 

Answer the following questions:

e.       What kind of chart is this? 

f.        Is it an appropriate chart for this kind of data?  Why or why not? 

g.       Would either of the other basic types of charts be appropriate?  Why or why not?

h.       What is your evaluation of the chart, besides whether it is appropriate to the data, using the criteria presented in class?  What are its strengths?  What are its weaknesses? 

[Hint: The bars and corresponding numbers represent percentage changes in the earnings of men and women at different levels of education.] 

Write an analysis of the chart, including both your reading of the chart and your interpretation.