Which visual aid would best support the following claim?

the great recession had a negative effect on family formation from the years 2008 through 2012.

a. a pie graph that shows the number of divorces that occurred between the years 2005 and 2012.
b. a bar graph that shows the number of marriages that occurred between 2005 and 2012.
c. a bar graph that shows the number of homes purchased between the years 2005 and 2012.
d. a pie graph that shows the percentage of homeowners between the years 2005 and 2012.

Option B. An effective visual aid to support the claim would be a bar graph that shows the number of marriages that occurred between 2005 and 2012.

Explanation:

Marriage statistics are usually used as a tool to show the state of the economy of a certain nation, as marriage is, usually, linked to changes in fertility and cohabitation, two concepts that also affect the economy. Due to the fact that the claim is based on the premise that the Great Recession impacted the formation of families, a bar graph showing the statistics on marriage would be the most appropriate. As divorce statistics would not show any data connected to the formation of families, and not only married people buy new homes.