Both of the following maps are based on the same data of employment rates across all census tracts in Connecticut. However, due to the number of intervals that the data is divided into in each map, the two maps look very different from each other. In the first map, the data is divided into only 2 buckets, showing a clear distinction between the census tracts with high employment rates (64.9% – 79.6%) and the ones with low employment rates (less than 64.9%). Highly contrasted colors are also used to emphasize the difference between the 2 baskets.
On the other hand, the data is divided into 8 buckets in the second map. Colors of the same hue and slightly different shades are used in symbolizing the baskets. It seems like the employment rates across the census tracts in Connecticut are quite even, with only a few census tracts having slightly higher rates of employment than the others.
The above maps have demonstrated how mapmakers can lie with maps and give totally opposite impressions to viewers, just by changing some of their decisions on map elements in making maps.