Technical Communication Quarterly Jul 2014

Toward an Ethical Rhetoric of the Digital Scientific Image: Learning From the Era When Science Met Photoshop

Jonathan Buehl The Ohio State University

Abstract

Over the past two decades, scientific editors have attempted to correct “mistaken” assumptions about scientific images and to curb unethical image-manipulation practices. Reactions to the advent and abuse of image-adjustment software (such as Adobe Photoshop) reveal the complex relations among visual representations, scientific credibility, and epistemic rhetoric. Perelman and Olbrechts-Tyteca's model of argumentation provides a flexible system for understanding these relations and for teaching students to use scientific images ethically and effectively.

Journal
Technical Communication Quarterly
Published
2014-07-01
DOI
10.1080/10572252.2014.914783
Open Access
Closed
Topics
multimodality

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (8)

  1. Stambler et al. (2025)
    Beyond Digital Literacy: Investigating Threshold Concepts to Foster Engagement …
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  2. Mehlenbacher et al. (2025)
    Misinformation As Genre Function: Insights on the Infodemic from a Genre-Theore…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  3. Lee (2022)
    The Ethics of Extrapolation: Science Fiction in the Technical Communication Classroom
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  4. Reid (2019)
    Compressing, Expanding, and Attending to Scientific Meaning: Writing the Semiot…
    Written Communication
  5. Robles (2018)
    Visualizing Certainty: What the Cultural History of the Gantt Chart Teaches Tec…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
Show all 8 →
  1. Ross (2017)
    The Role of Ethics, Culture, and Artistry in Scientific Illustration
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  2. Smith et al. (2016)
    The Communicative Work of Biology-Journal Captions: Lessons for Technical and P…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  3. Henning et al. (2016)
    Reconsidering Power and Legitimacy in Technical Communication
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication

Cites in this index (9)

  1. Whithaus (2012)
    Claim-Evidence Structures in Environmental Science Writing: Modifying Toulmin's…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  2. Northcut (2011)
    Insights from Illustrators: The Rhetorical Invention of Paleontology Representations
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  3. Winn (2009)
    “Proof” in Pictures: Visual Evidence and Meaning Making in the Ivory-Billed Woo…
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  4. Gross (2009)
    Toward a Theory of Verbal–Visual Interaction: The Example of Lavoisier
    Rhetoric Society Quarterly
  5. Hutto (2008)
    Graphics and Ethos in Biomedical Journals
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Show all 9 →
  1. Richards (2003)
    Argument and Authority in the Visual Representations of Science
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  2. Dragga (1997)
    A Question of Ethics: Lessons from Technical Communicators on the Job
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  3. Wickliff (1996)
    Toward a Photographic Rhetoric of Nineteenth-Century Scientific and Technical Texts
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  4. Allen (1996)
    Ethics and Visual Rhetorics: Seeing's Not Believing Anymore
    Technical Communication Quarterly
Also cites 31 works outside this index ↓
  1. 10.1126/science.8278802
     ↗
  2. 10.1038/ncb0306-203a
     ↗
  3. Buonaquisti A. (1994)
    10.1017/S1551929500067651
    Microscopy Today  ↗
  4. 10.1177/0306312707082021
     ↗
  5. 10.1016/S1369-8486(99)00037-0
     ↗
  6. 10.1126/science.314.5807.1866
     ↗
  7. Elkins J. (2008)
    Six stories from the end of representation: Images in painting, photography, astronomy, m…
     ↗
  8. Finnegan C. (2001)
    10.1080/00028533.2001.11951665
    Argumentation and Advocacy  ↗
  9. Fleck L. (1981)
    Genesis and development of a scientific fact
     ↗
  10. 10.1177/0306312712444303
     ↗
  11. 10.3109/01913129509014613
     ↗
  12. Gross , A. G. Harmon , J. E. & Reidy , M. S. ( 2009 ).Communicating science: The scientific article from the …
     ↗
  13. 10.1109/47.406728
     ↗
  14. 10.1126/science.318.5856.1550b
     ↗
  15. 10.1308/003588404772614795
     ↗
  16. 10.1091/mbc.E11-09-0824
     ↗
  17. 10.4161/auto.6.8.13698
     ↗
  18. 10.1080/08989620212970
     ↗
  19. 10.7208/chicago/9780226458106.001.0001
     ↗
  20. 10.1038/439891b
     ↗
  21. 10.7551/mitpress/9780262151207.001.0001
     ↗
  22. Pawley J. (2000)
    10.2144/00285bt01
    Biotechniques  ↗
  23. 10.1038/435881c
     ↗
  24. Poe M. (2010)
    Learning to communicate in science and engineering: Case studies from MIT
     ↗
  25. 10.1083/jcb.200209084
     ↗
  26. 10.1083/jcb.200305023
     ↗
  27. 10.1083/jcb.200406019
     ↗
  28. 10.1128/MCB.13.1.711
     ↗
  29. 10.1045/november2008-tenopir
     ↗
  30. 10.1038/nmeth.1431
     ↗
  31. 10.1187/cbe.07-07-0045
     ↗
CrossRef global citation count: 14 View in citation network →

Related Articles

  1. Journal of Business and Technical Communication Apr 2026
    Stance in CEO Statements from U.S. and Vietnamese Banks’ Annual Reports: A Corpus-Based Cross-Cultural Study ↗
    Minh Hieu Nguyen
    multimodality professional writing
  2. Journal of Business and Technical Communication Apr 2026
    An Acceptance Analysis of Firms’ Posts on Sina Weibo to Build Credibility ↗
    Chenghui Wu
    multimodality social media
  3. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Apr 2026
    Developing Intercultural Socioemotional Communication Skills: A Hybrid Student Exchange Project Between Kenya, Ireland, and Germany ↗
    Belinda Oechsler; Yvonne Cleary; Sissi Closs
    multimodality technical communication
  4. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Apr 2026
    What Video Games Can Tell Us About Interactive Technical Communication ↗
    Emily Kuzneski Johnson
    multimodality technical communication multilingual writers
  5. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Apr 2026
    “Is This Ethical?” New Data on the Ethical Principles and Practices of Document Design ↗
    Leslie Seawright; Amy Hodges; Timothy Ponce
    multimodality technical communication disability studies multilingual writers