Business and Professional Communication Quarterly Mar 2019 OA PDF

Danger in Public Spaces: Strengths and Limitations of Image- and Text-Based Warning Signs

Emil B. Towner St. Cloud State University

Abstract

This study examines the effectiveness of images on warning signs that communicate risk and risk avoidance in public spaces. Specifically, I compared data from 749 survey responses to determine whether the use of images can increase the effectiveness of a warning sign in a public space. Although the findings indicate that image-based warning signs are better at communicating risk and deterring dangerous activity, longer expository text-only warning signs may be more effective at helping people identify and participate in safe activities. Implications and future studies are offered in the conclusion.

Journal
Business and Professional Communication Quarterly
Published
2019-03-01
DOI
10.1177/2329490618815697
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