Cognitive Issues in Geographic Information Visualization
Perception and Thematic Map Symbol Design II
Barry Kronenfeld
Associate Professor
Eastern Illinois University
David Viertel
Associate Professor
Eastern Illinois University
Claudia Sluter
Professor
Federal University of Parana - UFPR
Motivation
Understanding the cognitive properties of cartograms and improving their appearance such that they produce less cognitive dissonance remains a primary challenge in cartogram research. A few recent studies have shown that favorability of human subjects differs depending on the form of the cartogram, with some preference for cartograms with rectangular form. However, these studies are limited in that they compare only a small number of cartograms among infinitely many possibilities.
Since cartograms rely on recognition of shapes that may be morphed in an infinite variety of ways, a broad range of forms must be explored to discover characteristics of cognitively salient and aesthetically pleasing cartograms. It is difficult to produce such variety using existing algorithms. We take a different approach, providing subjects with tools to create their own cartogram and then examining the choices that they make.
Research Questions
Given complete control over cartogram form, we posit that subjects will focus more attention on features considered cognitively salient and to exhibit aversions to types of distortion that create greater cognitive dissonance. Based on these concepts, we develop several specific hypotheses that will be tested experimentally, namely that subjects will focus more on:
(1) "linear" boundaries than non-linear boundaries
(2) external boundaries than internal boundaries
(3) shape "parts" than proportionality
These are working hypothesis only; our experimental design leaves room for the possibility of other discoveries that cannot be anticipated in advance.
Methods
Seven subjects in an upper-level undergraduate course in cartography will participate in a class assignment to construct a cartogram of the U.S. states based on Electoral College representation. Cartogram construction will be performed in Cartogram Studio, a flexible mesh-based software application that provides tools for interactively constructing a continuous cartogram by moving and adjusting map features. After presenting historical background, uses and methods of cartogram construction, students will first spend one 2-hour class period to learn to use the software. In the next 2-hour class period, students will be asked to construct a cartogram of Electoral College representation of the conterminous U.S.A. (48 states and the District of Columbia).
Subjects' focii of attention will be assessed in two ways. First, following the assignment students will be asked in a class discussion (or written assignment?) to identify specific locations that they focused on during cartogram construction. Second, individual adjustments made by each student will be examined to identify "hot-spots" of attention, on the assumption that a greater number of adjustments indicates a greater degree of cognitive focus. Students will be aware that their actions are being recorded, but the analysis of these actions will occur independently after the end of the semester and will not affect their grades.
Anticipated Results
The results of this study will improve our understanding of the relative cognitive salience of different aspects of shape and shape distortion on cartograms. This may help to improve cartogram construction algorithms by (1) identifying priority areas for shape preservation, and (2) informing the definition of appropriate shape distortion metrics. Given the small sample size, any conclusions will likely be preliminary. On the other hand, the small sample size allows us elicit a much greater degree of participation from each participant and to conduct an open-ended "focus group" discussion to elicit further insight. We hope that the insights gained from this experiment can be used to develop briefer test/survey instruments that will allow us to employ a larger subject pool in future experiments.
Associate Professor
Eastern Illinois University
Barry J Kronenfeld is Associate Professor of Geography at Eastern Illinois University and Coordinator of the Professional Science Master’s degree program at EIU. His research investigates innovative techniques for modeling, visualizing and analyzing spatial patterns in human and physical landscapes. Recent projects include cartogram construction, spatial interaction, and modeling of gradation in area-class maps. Dr. Kronenfeld teaches courses related to GIS, programming and geospatial data modeling at EIU, and is currently serving as Past Chair of the Cartography Specialty Group of the Association of American Geographers and Cartographic Editor of the Journal of Maps.
4108.3 - Cartograms in the Making: An Experiment in Aesthetic Design
Tuesday, July 4
9:10 AM – 9:30 AM
Associate Professor
Eastern Illinois University
David Viertel is an Associate Professor of Geography at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois. His research interests include linkages between physical and socio-demographic data in the modeled landscape, urban morphology, cartography, and remote sensing. Dr. Viertel teaches Cartography, Remote Sensing, and Lidar Modelling to undergraduate and graduate students in the Department of Geology/Geography.
4108.3 - Cartograms in the Making: An Experiment in Aesthetic Design
Tuesday, July 4
9:10 AM – 9:30 AM
Professor
Federal University of Parana - UFPR
Bachelor at Cartographic Engineering from Federal University of Paraná - UFPR (1986). Master at Geodetic Science from Federal University of Paraná - UFPR (1993). Doctorate at Computer Science from National Institute for Space Research - INPE (2000). Sandwich doctorate at Geography Department of the University of Kansas (1998). I am currently full professor at Federal University of Paraná - UFPR. I teach and research on the following subjects: geovisualization, thematic mapping, cartographic generalization, topographic mapping, interactive map design, and GIS.
Monday, July 3
4:10 PM – 4:30 PM
4108.1 - UK Election Cartography
Tuesday, July 4
8:30 AM – 8:50 AM
4108.2 - How Maps Distort the View of Reality - Mapping the Austrian Presidential Election 2016
Tuesday, July 4
8:50 AM – 9:10 AM
4108.3 - Cartograms in the Making: An Experiment in Aesthetic Design
Tuesday, July 4
9:10 AM – 9:30 AM
4108.4 - Could the outcome of the 2016 US elections have been predicted from past voting patterns?
Tuesday, July 4
9:30 AM – 9:50 AM
Tuesday, July 4
3:30 PM – 3:50 PM
5503.1 - Proposal for standard symbolization for topographic maps of urban areas in Brazil
Wednesday, July 5
1:30 PM – 1:50 PM
Wednesday, July 5
3:50 PM – 6:50 PM
5702.1 - Research Challenges for Cartography in the Era of Big Data
Wednesday, July 5
4:10 PM – 4:25 PM
5702.5 - Designing across map use contexts: A research agenda
Wednesday, July 5
5:15 PM – 5:30 PM
6105.1 - Evaluating the Effect of Display Realism on Natural Resource Decision Making
Thursday, July 6
8:30 AM – 8:50 AM
Thursday, July 6
8:50 AM – 9:10 AM
6105.3 - How do Prosumers Use Graphical Variables to Communicate on Maps?
Thursday, July 6
9:10 AM – 9:30 AM
6105.4 - Efficiency and effectiveness in case of disaster: a visual damage assessment tests
Thursday, July 6
9:30 AM – 9:50 AM
6601.1 - Official reference maps and VGI – the challenge of integration in developing countries
Thursday, July 6
2:50 PM – 3:10 PM
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