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Black holes and vacuum cleaners: Using metaphor, relevance, and inquiry in labels for space images
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Title
Black holes and vacuum cleaners: Using metaphor, relevance, and inquiry in labels for space images
Abstract
This study extended research on the development of explanatory labels for astronomical images for the nonexpert lay public. The research questions addressed how labels with leading questions/metaphors and relevance to everyday life affect comprehension of the intended message for deep space images, the desire to learn more, and the aesthetic appreciation of images. Participants were a convenience sample of 1,921 respondents solicited from a variety of websites and through social media who completed an online survey that used 4 high-resolution images as stimuli: Sagittarius A*, Solar Flare, Cassiopeia A, and the Pinwheel Galaxy (M101). Participants were randomly assigned initially to 1 of 3 label conditions: the standard label originally written for the image, a label with a leading question containing a metaphor related to the information for the image, or a label that contained a fact about the image relevant to everyday life. Participants were randomly assigned to 1 image and compared all labels for that image. Open-ended items at various points asked participants to pose questions to a hypothetical astronomer. Main findings were that the relevance condition was significantly more likely to increase wanting to learn more; the original label was most likely to increase overall appreciation; and smart phone users were more likely to want to learn more and report increased levels of appreciation. Results are discussed in terms of the need to examine individual viewer characteristics and goals in creating different labels for different audiences. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)
Date
01/01/2017
Citation
Smith, L. F., Arcand, K. K., Smith, B. K., Smith, R. K., Bookbinder, J., & Smith, J. K. (2017). Black holes and vacuum cleaners: Using metaphor, relevance, and inquiry in labels for space images. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts, 11(3),
Type of Publication
Author(s)
Smith, Lisa F. | Arcand, Kimberley K. | Smith, Benjamin K. | Smith, Roger | Bookbinder, Jay | Smith, Jeffrey K.
Construct
Cognitive Processes | Reasoning | Representations/Visualisations
Methodology
Research Setting
Target Group
Institution(s)
University of Otago | Chandra X-ray Center/Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory | University of Mary Washington | Chandra X-ray Center/Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory | NASA Ames Research Center | University of Otago
Journal Name
Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts
Peer-Reviewed Status
Publisher
American Psychological Association
Volume
11
Issue Number
3
ISSN
1931-390X(Electronic),1931-3896(Print)
Resource Type
Nation(s) of Study
International
Language
English