The conventions and politics of migration data visualizations

Bibliographic Data

ID7513121
AuthorsWilliam L Allen (0000-0003-3185-1468, University of Oxford, corresponding author)
Year2021
Volume25
Issue6
Pages1313-1334
Publication date2021-06-04
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueNew Media & Society (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1461-4448 • E-ISSN: 1461-7315
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/14614448211019300
OpenAlexW3171233613
LanguageEN
Citations received9
References cited68

What visual features characterize online migration data visualizations, and what do they suggest for the politics of representing migration and informing public attitudes? Audiences increasingly encounter quantitative information through visualization, especially in digital environments. Yet visualizations have political dimensions that manifest themselves through “conventions,” or shared symbols and practices conveying meaning. Using content analysis, I identify patterns of representation in a sample of 277 migration data visualizations scraped from Google Images. I find evidence of several conventions including appeals to objectivity and traceability as well as perspectives and units of analysis centered on states—particularly higher income migrant destinations. Then, by locating my analysis within the growing field of digital migration studies, I argue these conventions potentially shape public attitudes and understandings about migrants, and contribute to broader migration politics involving categorization and quantification that have relevance both on- and off-line

Categorization · Data science · Destinations · Political science · Politics · Sociology · Visualization · Computer Science · Focus Groups and Qualitative Methods · Law · Media Studies and Communication · Social Media and Politics

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access