International Interpretations of Icons and Images Used in North American Academic Websites

OpenAlex · English

This chapter presents the findings of a research study that examined international cultural perspectives of the visual meanings of icons and images on North American academic websites to determine whether the meanings designed from an American cultural perspective were understood in other cultural contexts. When designing icons and images for online learners, educators and designers must become aware of their own cultural biases and those of the learners who are participating at a distance. There is a dearth of research that investigates how perceptions of icons and images used within North American academic websites may differ across cultures. This research applies the cultural model developed by Shaw and Barrett-Power to the analysis of international cultural perspectives of the meanings of icons and images drawn from North American academic websites to determine whether the participants interpretations were culturally related.