Simple Data Visualization Techniques of Racial Demographic Change Sharply Increase Propensities Toward Violence

Abstract

Data visualization has direct political implications. Across four experiments which slightly vary the visualization of data about projected racial demographic change in the United States, we find that particular displays of racial demographic change strongly alter the inferences that Americans make about the future of the U.S. These inferences lead to threatened sentiments, which increase support for political violence. We conclude that more detail than less is needed when using data visualization because of the potential for misinterpretation that could unintentionally inflame anti-democratic political sentiments.