Maps versus its users in the digital era: interpretation, cognition, - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Kristien Ooms, Philippe De Maeyer, Veerle Fack

Ghent University Department of Geography Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science

Maps versus its users in the digital era: interpretation, cognition, and memory

Research Objectives

• Communication process:

– Cognitive structure – Expertise? – Influence of deviations

Sensory Input Sensory Input Working Memory Working Memory

Transferred Transferred

Long Term Memory Long Term Memory

Transferred Transferred Retrieved Retrieved

Virtually unlimited Limited in ‐size ‐time

(debate)

Using links, pointers with previous knowledge

Research Objectives

Contribute to the understanding of how map users read, interpret, store, and use the presented visual information on screen maps.

Attention Read Store Use

Understand Understand Influence Influence Improve design Improve design

Retrieve Interpret

Stimuli, task, participants, …

• Task:

– Study (learn) – Draw (retrieve)

• Participants:

– 12 experts – 12 novices – Gender: balanced

Reading and Interpretation

• Eye tracking
• Fixations:

Insights in...

‐ Attentive behaviour

‐ Interpretation ‐ Cognitive processes

Metrics:

‐ Location of the fixations ‐ Fixation duration ‐ Number of fixations

• Saccades:

Reading and Interpretation

• Eye movement:

– Metrics

• Average fixation duration:

Experts significantly shorter

• Number of fixations per second

Experts significantly more

Experts Novices ANOVA M SD M SD F P AvgFixDur(s) .308 .046 .339 .062 7.578 .007 Fix/s 2.804 .467 2.566 .469 6.235 .014 TrialDur (s) 335.7 128.0 205.7 128.5 10.516 .002

Reading and Interpretation

• Eye movements

– Gridded visualisations

• Fixation count
• Total dwell time
• Average fixation duration
• Average per user group
• Maximum per user group

Variable Classification and colour schemes FixCount [0‐1[ [1‐2[ [2‐4[ [4‐6[ [6‐8[ [8‐10[ [10‐20[ [20‐...] FixDur [.000‐ .325[ [.325‐ .650[ [.650‐ 1.300[ [1.300‐ 1.950[ [1.950‐ 2.600[ [2.600‐ 3.250[ [3.250‐ 6.500[ [6.500‐ …......] Colour (RGB) 255 247 217 189 150 99 37

Reading and Interpretation

• Eye movements

– 2D gridded visualisations

Average fixation count Maximum fixation count

1. Structuring elements 2. Water bodies!? 3. Village backgrounds… 4. Focus on left side 1. 2. 3. 4.

Insights?

Reading and Interpretation

• Eye movements

– 3D gridded visualisation

Average total dwell time Average fixation duration

Reading and Interpretation

• Eye movements

– Gridded visualisation: statistical comparison

Statistical comparison (ANOVA)

Cognition and Memory

• Thinking aloud?

– Say out loud every thought – Audio & video recordings – Insights in...

• Working Memory

– How is information stored – How much information

• Information retrieval

– Links with Long Term Memory

Square...rectangle. ..euhm...house? ..what do you guys think?

Cognition and Memory

• Thinking aloud

Cognition and Memory

• Thinking aloud

– Word segmentation (count in ‰)

Based on theme  Based on frequency 

Chapter 6

Cognition and Memory

• Thinking aloud

– ‘Full thought’

• 4 Levels of codes:

Level 1: Map Level Orientate – Execute ‐ Evaluate Level 2: Item Level Gather Thougts – Draw – Correct ‐ Evaluate Level 3: Confidence Confident – Neutral – Not Confident Level 4: Actions

Check – Correct – Draw – Erase – Fill Colour – Talk – Take Pencil

• Time ratio for each code: [0‐1]

Cognition and Memory

• Thinking aloud

– ‘Full thought’

Cognition and Memory

• Sketch maps

Cognition and Memory

• Sketch maps

– Order of drawing – Scores on maps

• Questionnaire

– Stated confidence

General Conclusion

• Effective screen map design?

– Guide attentive behaviour

• Reference frame: clearly visible
• Other elements: neutral

– Structure/organise information

• Group objects, e.g. through colour use

– Optimal map?

• Less essential for non‐structuring elements
• Important for structuring elements

Thank you for your attention!

Questions?

Kristien.Ooms@UGent.be