A student collected categorical data for a research project and is creating a bar chart. Which general guideline should the student follow to avoid creating a misleading chart?

Overlaying images on bars can distract from the data being presented and may distort the viewer's perception of the values represented. This practice can create confusion and lead to misinterpretation, as the emphasis shifts from the actual data to the images, compromising the chart's effectiveness in conveying information.

While ordering categories by frequency can enhance clarity, it does not address the fundamental issue of baseline representation. Even if categories are organized effectively, a misleading baseline can still cause significant misinterpretations of the data. Therefore, this guideline, while helpful, does not ensure the chart's integrity.

Setting the baseline at the lowest-value category can create misleading visual representations of the data, as it can exaggerate differences between categories. This approach can obscure the accurate relationships and comparisons that the chart aims to convey, ultimately leading to incorrect conclusions about the data.