Explaining a scientific finding in a clear and effective way is often difficult. In fact, many researchers struggle with identifying how to best break down their findings’ implications into easily digestible nuggets for a general audience—or even their peers—to understand. For a long time, scientists took a text-heavy, jargon-filled approach to science communication, but the resulting articles often ended up being difficult to read, even for those familiar with the field. To increase scientific communication’s reach, researchers increasingly incorporate more accessible and effective methods, such as diagrams and images, to communicate their research findings to their peers and the public.
We Remember What We See
Humans are visual creatures who more easily absorb and retain information when it is presented as an image compared to text.1,2 This concept, known as the picture superiority effect, explains the root of the saying “a picture is worth a thousand words” and applies to ...
