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Visualization Rhetoric: Framing Effects in Narrative Visualization
Dec. 2011 (vol. 17 no. 12)
pp. 2231-2240
ASCII Text
x 
 
Jessica Hullman, Nick Diakopoulos, "Visualization Rhetoric: Framing Effects in Narrative Visualization," IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics, vol. 17, no. 12, pp. 2231-2240, Dec., 2011.
 
 
BibTex
x
 
@article{ 10.1109/TVCG.2011.255,
author = {Jessica Hullman and Nick Diakopoulos},
title = {Visualization Rhetoric: Framing Effects in Narrative Visualization},
journal ={IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics},
volume = {17},
number = {12},
issn = {1077-2626},
year = {2011},
pages = {2231-2240},
doi = {http://doi.ieeecomputersociety.org/10.1109/TVCG.2011.255},
publisher = {IEEE Computer Society},
address = {Los Alamitos, CA, USA},
}
 
 
RefWorks Procite/RefMan/Endnote
x 
 
TY - JOUR
JO - IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics
TI - Visualization Rhetoric: Framing Effects in Narrative Visualization
IS - 12
SN - 1077-2626
SP2231
EP2240
EPD - 2231-2240
A1 - Jessica Hullman,
A1 - Nick Diakopoulos,
PY - 2011
KW - Rhetoric
KW - narrative visualization
KW - framing effects
KW - semiotics
KW - denotation
KW - connotation.
VL - 17
JA - IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics
ER -
 
Jessica Hullman, University of Michigan School of Information
Nick Diakopoulos, Rutgers University School of Information and Communication
Narrative visualizations combine conventions of communicative and exploratory information visualization to convey an intended story. We demonstrate visualization rhetoric as an analytical framework for understanding how design techniques that prioritize particular interpretations in visualizations that "tell a story" can significantly affect end-user interpretation. We draw a parallel between narrative visualization interpretation and evidence from framing studies in political messaging, decision-making, and literary studies. Devices for understanding the rhetorical nature of narrative information visualizations are presented, informed by the rigorous application of concepts from critical theory, semiotics, journalism, and political theory. We draw attention to how design tactics represent additions or omissions of information at various levels−the data, visual representation, textual annotations, and interactivity−and how visualizations denote and connote phenomena with reference to unstated viewing conventions and codes. Classes of rhetorical techniques identified via a systematic analysis of recent narrative visualizations are presented, and characterized according to their rhetorical contribution to the visualization. We describe how designers and researchers can benefit from the potentially positive aspects of visualization rhetoric in designing engaging, layered narrative visualizations and how our framework can shed light on how a visualization design prioritizes specific interpretations. We identify areas where future inquiry into visualization rhetoric can improve understanding of visualization interpretation.

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Index Terms:
Rhetoric, narrative visualization, framing effects, semiotics, denotation, connotation.
Citation:
Jessica Hullman, Nick Diakopoulos, "Visualization Rhetoric: Framing Effects in Narrative Visualization," IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics, vol. 17, no. 12, pp. 2231-2240, Dec. 2011, doi:10.1109/TVCG.2011.255
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