Comparisons of Residents' Perceptions of Patterns and Trends on Computer-Animated Maps and Graphs and on Google Maps of Events in Their Neighbourhoods

Abstract

The present study measures and compares the accuracy of residents' browsing of computer-animated maps and graphs and computer-programmed Google maps in two versions of the Glengarry and Wellington-Crawford Geographical Monitoring Project (GWCGMP). Respondents answered the project's entry questions before browsing displays of the locations and timings of crime and disorder offences, fires, and home sales and prices in their neighbourhoods. Before exiting the project, they answered questions about these events piped from their entry answers and browsed displays. One hundred and seven respondents perceived approximately one-quarter of the “correct” patterns on browsed maps and trends on browsed graphs. These correct patterns and trends were inferred from time-series and linear regression analyses of data on offences, fires, and housing sales for the neighbourhoods. In addition, respondents agreed with almost one-half of comparisons between the patterns and timings of their own events and those displayed on maps and graphs. In conclusion, Web-savvy, younger, spatially active residents are inferred to have been more accurate in perceiving online map patterns and graph trends. They were more accurate than casual stay-at-home browsers, who were more likely not to remember patterns, trends, or displays than they were to perceive them incorrectly.