Abstract
There are many different types of datasets represented by maps in thematic cartography. It is possible to represent features and phenomenon referencing to area as well as to point. Furthermore, it is possible to represent qualitative data as well as quantitative data. There are many different ways to represent them. One of the most important and most used cartographic symbols of lettering is colour, resp. colour scales, which are chosen according to shown data. This article is focused on the perception of colour scales in relation to character of data. For experiment, a new questionnaire was created on the basis of colour scales classification. This questionnaire was posed to the students of years 1 and 2 of high school in order to find out how they perceive the colour scales. The study analyzes three main questions; whether students differentiate qualitative and quantitative datasets and corresponding colour scales, whether they prefer representing of features by context colours or by the colour they like more and whether they are familiar with principles of diverging colour scales. When processing it, the correlation between certain agents and the answers was established.
Highlights
One comes across a map, a scheme or a topological sketch every day
We can choose from several cartographic methods depending on different characteristics of data (various methods are widely described in literature about making maps and cartography in general, e.g. (Brewer, 2005) or (Voženílek, 2004))
The experiment aimed to determine whether the colour scales commonly used on thematic maps are understandable for students of high school
Summary
One comes across a map, a scheme or a topological sketch every day. We need to understand GPS (Global Positioning System) navigation system while driving; we should be able to get to some places according to a transit scheme. We can choose from several cartographic methods depending on different characteristics of data It is easier to read a map when it is coloured (e.g., Brewer, 1997). There exist some conventions of using particular colour scales for showing certain phenomena (e.g. the hypsometric scale to show heights, blue-red scale for temperature); the research aims to find out whether some of these habitual manners are understandable for common map users. The experiment was focused on determining whether respondents are able to perceive the difference between these two groups of data and assorted colour scales. The first part of the article describes the methodology of experiment, the group of subjects, expected results and the procedure of research. The second (main) part deals with processing of received answers according to type of classification of colours, comparing them with expected results and checking possible dependences
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