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Video abstracts and plain language summaries are more effective than graphical abstracts and published abstracts

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  • Kate Bredbenner
  • Sanford M Simon

Abstract

Background: Journals are trying to make their papers more accessible by creating a variety of research summaries including graphical abstracts, video abstracts, and plain language summaries. It is unknown if individuals with science, science-related, or non-science careers prefer different summaries, which approach is most effective, or even what criteria should be used for judging which approach is most effective. A survey was created to address this gap in our knowledge. Two papers from Nature on similar research topics were chosen, and different kinds of research summaries were created for each one. Questions to measure comprehension of the research, as well as self-evaluation of enjoyment of the summary, perceived understanding after viewing the summary, and the desire for more updates of that summary type were asked to determine the relative merits of each of the summaries. Results: Participants (n = 538) were randomly assigned to one of the summary types. The response of adults with science, science-related, and non-science careers were slightly different, but they show similar trends. All groups performed well on a post-summary test, but participants reported higher perceived understanding when presented with a video or plain language summary (p

Suggested Citation

  • Kate Bredbenner & Sanford M Simon, 2019. "Video abstracts and plain language summaries are more effective than graphical abstracts and published abstracts," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(11), pages 1-19, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0224697
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224697
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Matthew A. Takata & Daniel Gonçalves-Carneiro & Trinity M. Zang & Steven J. Soll & Ashley York & Daniel Blanco-Melo & Paul D. Bieniasz, 2017. "CG dinucleotide suppression enables antiviral defence targeting non-self RNA," Nature, Nature, vol. 550(7674), pages 124-127, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ju Wen & Lan Yi, 2023. "Comparing lay summaries to scientific abstracts for readability and jargon use: a case report," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 128(10), pages 5791-5800, October.
    2. Tristan Bonnevie & Aurore Repel & Francis-Edouard Gravier & Joel Ladner & Louis Sibert & Jean-François Muir & Antoine Cuvelier & Marc-Olivier Fischer, 2023. "Video abstracts are associated with an increase in research reports citations, views and social attention: a cross-sectional study," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 128(5), pages 3001-3015, May.

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