In my work, I study how researchers use visuals—such as charts and graphs—to communicate their findings across different fields. Research methods shape what questions are asked, how progress is measured, and how success is defined. These choices also influence the kinds of visuals researchers use to analyze and present their data.
By examining publications from a wide range of disciplines and journals, I explore how different research approaches are connected to the types of visual displays researchers rely on. This work helps explain how visual communication practices vary across fields and why certain visuals are used more often than others.
Below is a list of my publications on this topic, using a variety of statistical approaches and theoretical perspectives.
2021 Friedman, A. “Data and visual displays in the Journal of Ecology 1996–2016.” Information Visualization 20(1)
2013 Friedman, A. & Smiraglia, P. R. “Nodes and Arcs: Concept Map, Semiotics, and Knowledge Organization.” Journal of Documentation. Vol. 69 No.1. Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
2010 Friedman, A. The Use of Concept Maps in Knowledge Organization: An Analysis of Conference Papers.” The journal of Knowledge Organization Journal Vol. 37 (1). Ergon-Verlag.
