Ways of Seeing Data: Towards a Critical Literacy for Data Visualizations as Research Objects and Research Devices

Forthcoming in Sebastian Kubitschko and Anne Kaun (eds.) (2016) Innovative Methods in Media and Communication Research. London: Palgrave Macmillan

36 Pages Posted: 6 Oct 2016

See all articles by Jonathan Gray

Jonathan Gray

King's College London

Liliana Bounegru

Ghent University; University of Groningen; Digital Methods Initiative

Stefania Milan

University of Amsterdam

Paolo Ciuccarelli

Politecnico di Milano - DensityDesign Research Lab

Date Written: March 10, 2016

Abstract

In the digital age, data visualisations are becoming an increasingly prominent genre for the representation and mediation of collective life – from digital analytics dashboards to interactive news graphics. At the same time they are becoming more and more popular as methods in media and communications studies as well as in humanities and social science research more broadly. Inspired by John Berger’s work to develop a critical literacy for visual culture, this chapter aims to contribute towards a critical literacy for data visualisations. In particular we argue for “methodological reflexivity” (Agre, 1997; Rieder and Röhle, 2012) around the use of data visualisations in research as both instruments and objects of study. We develop a heuristic framework for studying three forms of mediation which data visualisations enact – drawing on research and insights from new media studies, science and technology studies, the history and philosophy of science, cultural studies and critical social theory. We illustrate these three forms of mediation with an analysis of visualisations of public finances from civil society organisations, media outlets and public institutions. We conclude with some thoughts towards a broader programme of critical literacy for reading and doing research with data visualisations.

Keywords: data visualisation, dataviz, critical literacy, data literacy, data infrastructures, STS, science and technology studies, history and philosophy of sciences, media studies, visual culture, data, dashboards

Suggested Citation

Gray, Jonathan and Bounegru, Liliana and Milan, Stefania and Ciuccarelli, Paolo, Ways of Seeing Data: Towards a Critical Literacy for Data Visualizations as Research Objects and Research Devices (March 10, 2016). Forthcoming in Sebastian Kubitschko and Anne Kaun (eds.) (2016) Innovative Methods in Media and Communication Research. London: Palgrave Macmillan, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2846398

Jonathan Gray (Contact Author)

King's College London ( email )

Strand
London, England WC2R 2LS
United Kingdom

Liliana Bounegru

Ghent University ( email )

Coupure Links 653
Ghent, 9000
Belgium

University of Groningen ( email )

P.O. Box 800
9700 AH Groningen, Groningen 9700 AV
Netherlands

Digital Methods Initiative ( email )

Spui 21
Amsterdam, 1018 WB
Netherlands

Stefania Milan

University of Amsterdam ( email )

Department of Media Studies
Turfdraagsterpad 9
Amsterdam, 1012 XT
Netherlands

HOME PAGE: http://mediastudies.nl

Paolo Ciuccarelli

Politecnico di Milano - DensityDesign Research Lab ( email )

Piazza Leonardo da Vinci
Milan, Milano 20100
Italy

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