Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Paramyxoviruses for Tumor-targeted Immunomodulation: Design and Evaluation Ex Vivo
Published on: January 7, 2019
A case study of a graphical misrepresentation: drawing the wrong conclusions about the measles, mumps and rubella
Anthony R Cox1, Harold Kirkham
1West Midlands Centre for Adverse Drug Reactions, City Hospital, Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, Birmingham, England. a.r.cox@aston.ac.uk
Abstract:
Graphs have been used in attempts to show a relationship between the measles, mumps and rubella virus (MMR) vaccine and autism. We examine the topic of graphical representation of data in general, and one of these graphs in particular: the one that appeared in a 1999 letter to The Lancet. That graph combined data from England and from California, USA. The author alleged that this graph illustrated a rise in autism rates linked to the use of the MMR vaccine. By examining the presentation closely, we are able to show how this graph misrepresented the data used. We give advice for both authors and publishers in the use of such graphical treatments of data.
Related Concept Videos
Vaccinations
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease
Vaccines
Chickenpox
Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer
RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...
Bias in Epidemiological Studies

