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From: jim@sparky.IMD.Sterling.COM (Jim Nicholsen)
Newsgroups: comp.cog-eng
Subject: re: Images vs Text
Message-ID: <1991Apr17.130152.15517@sparky.IMD.Sterling.COM>
Date: 17 Apr 91 13:01:52 GMT
Sender: jim@sparky.IMD.Sterling.COM (Jim Nicholsen)
Organization: Sterling Software, IMD
Lines: 41

the discussions of whether or not an image carries cultural "baggage" which
clouds its meaning was settled, for me, back in the days of my psychology
degree.  

In an experiment, literate people were given the intelligence test for
"non-literate" people. After they had completed the test, they were asked
to go back through the test and explain why they had answered each question
in the manner which they had chosen. 

the results showed quite clearly that the culture and experience of the
test taker greatly skewed the test results. The only image I remember
distinctly from the experiment was one of a person reading a book. To people
whose parents were educators - the image denoted working, to people whose
parents were white collar workers, and a good number of blue-collar workers, the
image denoted relaxation. There was a third meaning attributed to people
whose parents did not read, but I cannot remember it. 

Lest it sound like I am blaming the test takers for the failure of the test,
it was also possible to apply the experimental results to the test itself
to guess at the cultural experience of the individuals responsible for the 
test (they did not rank high on cross cultural experience :->)

Since that time I have tried to look for common ground between my experience
and the experience of my audience before committing to a particular set of
'images' or 'text'.  The choice of 'image' vs 'text' has been made on which
best conveys the meaning I am trying to present given the expected audience
and my ability.


Jim Nicholsen
Sterling IMD Inc
1404 Fort Crook Road south
Bellevue  NE  USA  68005-2959

voice     (402) 291-8300
fax       (402) 291-4362
email     jim@sparky.IMD.Sterling.COM


C
words or pictures. The choice of 'text' or 'image' was been made on the