Masters Theses

Keywords and Phrases

CDC infographics; COVID-19; Infographics; Technical communication; Visual content analysis; WHO infographics

Abstract

"In this study, I conducted a comparative visual content analysis of the CDC and WHO COVID-19 infographics. I considered infographics as an important genre of communication during such times because they not only provided sufficient information to the audience but did so in an engaging manner. The goal of my study was to think about the role of infographics in the context of health and risk communication during a pandemic, and to emphasize on the rhetorical elements that constitute the creation of infographics by major health organizations. I specifically focused on three elements: the kinds of information communicated through infographics, the text and graphic organization in the infographics, and the rhetorical strategies.

The results of my analysis indicated that (1) the CDC and WHO infographics included how-to information, dos and don’ts, step-by-step guidelines, checklists, and general informational topics on COVID-19 in their infographics; (2) the CDC infographics had structured text and graphic organization that established a reading pattern, whereas the WHO infographics followed an abstract design that gave the audience more freedom to explore the infographic; and (3) Both the CDC and WHO used visuals to make information more understandable, used imperatives whenever the aim was to initiate action, avoided frightening references in the infographics and focused on helpful information, and used document design according to the reading patterns of the audience. I concluded that audience was the key factor that stemmed the differences in the implementation of rhetorical strategies in the CDC and WHO infographics"--Abstract, page iii.

Advisor(s)

Davis, Carleigh J.

Committee Member(s)

Wright, David
Hercula, Sarah E.

Department(s)

English and Technical Communication

Degree Name

M.S. in Technical Communication

Publisher

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Publication Date

Spring 2021

Pagination

xi, 107 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographic references (pages 99-106).

Rights

© 2021 Manushri Pandya, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Thesis Number

T 11845

Electronic OCLC #

1280062126

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