Does Visualization Affect Perceptions of Ethically Complex Policy Decisions: An Experimental Study

Visualization as a communication medium is an important factor when considering how individuals are influenced in a decision about a complex policy issue. Age, race and gender may have interacting relationships with decision making about science and perceptions of communication made through immersive visual environments. This study is an exploration of what happens when laypeople are allowed to make a decision about an ethically challenging, human experiment and how age, race, gender, and communication mediums may influence this decision making process. Preliminary results indicate visualization environments are better than print media in communicating risks; older or more educated participants are less likely to approve scientific studies involving human subjects; race nor ethnicity are significant indicators of decision outcome. Direction of future research around each of these areas is discussed