The Visual Invention Practices of STEM Researchers: An Exploratory Topology. (February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Walsh, Lynda; Ross, Andrew B.
• Other Names: Nucci Mary guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Science communication. Volume 37:Number 1(2015:Jan.)
• Page Start: 118
• Page End: 139
• Publication Date: 2015-02
• Subjects: STEM graphics -- invention -- visual literacy -- topoi; Social sciences -- Periodicals; Knowledge, Sociology of -- Periodicals; Communication in science -- Periodicals; Communication of technical information -- Periodicals; Communication in medicine -- Periodicals; Information scientifique -- Périodiques; Information technique -- Périodiques; Communication en sciences sociales -- Périodiques; Communication en médecine -- Périodiques; 300.14
• DOI: 10.1177/1075547014566990
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1075-5470

Abstract

This article presents results from a qualitative pilot survey of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) researchers concerning techniques used to create graphics for research articles. The survey aimed to induce a methodological vocabulary for a larger project designed to describe and improve STEM visual literacy for nonexperts. However, the survey also revealed interesting problems for investigation—chief among them a mismatch between STEM visual pedagogy and praxis. In addition, participants supplied a handlist of STEM visual communication texts that have informed their praxis. Survey results are presented in the form of a topology—a frequency-based representation of the topics framing participants' discussion of STEM visual invention.