Methods & milestones

The main two hypotheses guiding the project are a) that datavis represents a semiotic resource capable of enhancing the communicative processes involved in journalism b) that the effectiveness of datavis depends on a number of conditions, many of which can be connected to aspects of literacy and to situational conditions both on the sender side and on the receiver side.

These hypotheses are explored through the research questions. To answer the research questions, several methods will be applied – organised on a comparative study and a case study:

  • Qualitative interviews with datavis-developers and key staff in selected news organisations in Norway and in the UK.
  • Text analysis and visual discourse analysis of DV material from selected news sources
  • Qualitative interviews and focus group interviews with target group users of DV produced by NRK
  • Video-observation of target group users of DV produced by NRK.

Part of the study will be conducted in close collaboration with Norsk Rikskringkasting – NRK (The National broadcaster in Norway).

Milestones are as follows:

  • 04.2016   DESIGN:

    • The project is designed in detail, and agreements with external partners are settled.

  • 06.2016   THEORY:

    • Theoretic framework is constructed and the project is positioned in the international research field. Website is constructed.

  • 07.2016   DATA HARVESTING I:

    • The interviews with NRK staff and with Norwegian and Scandinavian informants are done and transcribed. Text data from NRK is selected and analyzed.

  • 09.2016    DATA HARVESTING II:

    • Text data from Norwegian and Scandinavian news sites is selected and analyzed. User studies (interviews with NRK-readers) are done.

  • 12.2016    DATA HARVESTING III:

    • Interviews with UK informants are done and transcribed.

  • 06.2017    DISSEMINATION:

    • Three articles are written and submitted for international publication.