Andi Putt's infographics on autism prevalence demonstrate y-axis truncation and the surveillance effect.

This example illustrates how better assessment has likely increased in autism diagnoses (as opposed to the increase being due to vaccines or hysterical parents). It does a good job of illustrating truncated y-axes and the surveillance effect. It also reminds our psychology majors that we have many professional allies and colleagues outside of psychology. Like speech language pathologists.

I found these examples (see below) on Facebook from speech-language pathologist/excellent science communicator Mrs. Speechie P. AKA Andi Putt.

How to use in class:

1. Truncated y-axis

I like how she mentions that truncated y axes can be a scare tactic. I also like that she shows there are still relatively few in the total population.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1327073175898079&set=a.463959318876140

On this theme, she shared a second image that does a really good job of showing how proper diagnosis isn't the same thing as fake/inflated diagnoses (a common argument in anti-autism/anti-accommodation circles).

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1326352029303527&set=pb.100057862261072.-2207520000

Y'all, Mrs. P. did the heavy lifting for us. This spells out the dates and explains how psychology/psychiatry groups and adjacent groups improved the assessment and identification of people with autism. Professionals are finally putting a diagnosis on a behavioral phenomenon and treating it more often (AKA the surveillance effect). While I am biased towards my fellow stats teachers, this certainly has a home in your clinical/counseling/developmental/RM classes.

If you like this example, you'll love my textbook, Psychological Statistics for Everyone.

Comments

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