How Real Is Too Real? User-Testing the Effects of Realism as a Risk Communication Strategy in Sea Level Rise Visualizations

In visual risk communication, there has been a push toward using realism to show potential effects of sea level rise on coastal communities, often with the assumption that higher degrees of realism are more effective. We challenge this assumption by sharing the results of a user-based study exploring reactions to simulated images of flooded landmarks. The findings identify nuanced rhetorical and emotional responses, encouraging technical communicators to contribute to risk scholarship in psychology and cartography.

在视觉风险传播领域，学界长期以来倾向于采用高写实度的视觉内容呈现海平面上升对沿海社区的潜在影响，并普遍默认更高的写实程度将带来更优的传播效果。本研究通过分享一项基于用户反馈的实证研究成果，对这一默认假设提出了质疑——该研究旨在探究受众对被淹没地标模拟图像的反应。研究结果揭示了受众在修辞与情感层面的细微差异化反应，同时鼓励技术传播从业者为心理学与制图学领域的风险研究学术体系贡献力量。