Investigating the Effect of Digital Image Guide on Visual Literacy

Due to the increasing volume of information in today's world and the need to use images in various fields, we can no longer afford to ignore the importance of visual literacy as much information is included and conveyed through images. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of digital image guide method on visual literacy. A quasi-experimental research method with pre-test post-test control group design was used to answer the research questions. The research began by assessing the visual literacy of the experimental and the control groups via a visual literacy questionnaire (the pre-test). The experimental group then received 9 sessions of 30-minute training through description of digital images, known as the Digital Image Guide, while the control received no special treatment. The images used in this study were selected from Getty Images and Flickr sites. Afterwards, the two groups took the same visual literacy questionnaire (the post-test). The obtained data were analyzed using a multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). The results showed that the mean of visual literacy components in the post-test of the experimental group had a significant increase compared to that of the control group (p<0.05). Therefore, it can be said that the Digital Image Guide (i.e. the method of describing digital images) had a positive and significant effect on students' visual literacy and its components. People need to be able to understand and visualize the messages in the images and educational systems, which are usually based on traditional methods, need to take that point into account and teach visual literacy to students so that they can understand concepts as it would enhance their learning.