Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 25, 2026

Methods for Presenting Real-world Objects Under Controlled Laboratory Conditions
Published on: June 21, 2019
Bars and lines: a study of graphic communication
Abstract:
Interpretations of graphs seem to be rooted in principles of cognitive naturalness and information processing rather than arbitrary correspondences. These predict that people should more readily associate bars with discrete comparisons between data points because bars are discrete entities and facilitate point estimates. They should more readily associate lines with trends because lines connect discrete entities and directly represent slope. The predictions were supported in three experiments--two examining comprehension and one production. The correspondence does not seem to depend on explicit knowledge of rules. Instead, it may reflect the influence of the communicative situation as well as the perceptual properties of graphs.
Related Concept Videos
Multiple Bar Graph
Each bar or column in the multiple bar graph represents a data value. These graphs are used primarily in interrelating two or more sets of data. The categories of different kinds of data are listed along the horizontal or x-axis, whereas...
Bar Graph
Barriers to Effective Communication I
Communication barriers include the following:
Physiological barriers: They are limitations caused by a person's health condition or disability, such as hearing loss, poor eyesight, illness, or unconsciousness. An example to overcome this barrier...
Barriers to Effective Communication II
Cultural barriers:
Differences in values, beliefs, religion, knowledge, and tradition can significantly impact communication. Awareness of nonverbal cues is critical, especially when conversing with a patient from a different culture. What appears appropriate in one culture may be inappropriate in another.
Semantic barriers:
As a result of their tendency to use...
Methods of Documentation IV: Focus Charting
It typically involves three columns for recording information:
Interpreting R Charts
An R chart plots the range of subsets of measurements collected from a process. Each point on the chart represents the range—defined as the difference between the maximum and minimum values—of a sample...

