Abstract
This study reviews the major theories of visual search processes and applies some of their concepts to searching for multivariate point symbols in a map environment. The act of searching a map for information is a primary activity undertaken during map-reading. The complexity of this process will vary, of course, with symbol design and map content. Multivariate symbols, for example, will be more difficult to search for efficiently than univariate symbols. The purpose of this research was to examine the cognitive processes used by map readers when searching for multivariate point symbols on a map. The experiment used Chernoff Faces as the test symbol, and a symbol-detection task to assess how accurately and how efficiently target symbols composed of different combinations of facial features could be detected. Of particular interest was assessing the role that different combinations of symbol dimensions and different combinations of symbol parts played in moderating search efficiency. Subject reaction times and error rates were used to evaluate the efficiency of the searches. Results suggested all searches employed serial search processes, although feature searches (those in which a target symbol consists of a unique feature) were by far the easiest for subjects to complete. It was also demonstrated that hierarchical relationships could be manipulated within symbols to increase search efficiency for searches in which the target does not have a unique features (conjunctive search).
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
More From: Cartographica: The International Journal for Geographic Information and Geovisualization
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.