Transforming science narratives? The impact of explanatory labels of 3D data visualization on public understanding of space science

This survey experiment evaluates the effectiveness of explanatory labels in enhancing learning outcomes and attitudes in a space science documentary featuring cinematic-style data visualizations. We investigate four hypotheses: (1) labels improve understanding of specific scientific topics, (2) no difference in comprehension of topics not addressed by labels between experimental and control groups, (3) labels increase accuracy in interpreting color-coded data visualizations, and (4) labels foster more positive attitudes towards space science due to improved intelligibility. Our findings support the first two hypotheses: explanatory labels enhanced understanding of specific topics but did not affect comprehension of unlabeled topics. Contrary to expectations, labels did not significantly impact accuracy in decoding color-coded data or attitudes towards space science. A notable minority misinterpreted visual data in both conditions, highlighting the need for better scaffolding in scientific visualizations for public audiences. These results suggest that designing effective 3D data visualizations for public understanding is more complex than merely adding labels and that entertainment should be balanced with narrative structure and content for learning.