How are graphs read? An indication of sequence
Tóm tắt
Graphs are an extremely powerful communicative and analytical tool commonly used in both the behavioral sciences and computing (as well as many other fields). More than 2.2 trillion graphs are published annually, and these graphs are used to communicate a host of often very important information to readers. Yet despite the multitude of applications for which graphs are used, and despite the frequency of their use, little is known about how graphs communicate information or about the cognitive processes that readers use when they read and interpret the information presented within graphs. Insight into the answers to these questions can be obtained through the study of the techniques that people use to read graphs. This paper describes the research methodology and results of an empirical investigation into the viewing order in which readers choose to view the different components of graphs and into the length of time that readers spend studying each of these components.
Tài liệu tham khảo
Bennett, J. M., &Flach, J. M. (1992). Graphical displays: Implications for divided attention, focused attention, and problem solving.Human Factors,34, 513–533.
Cleveland, W. S. (1985).The elements of graphing data. Monterey, CA: Wadsworth.
Cleveland, W. S., &McGill, R. (1986). An experiment in graphical perception.International Journal of Man-Machine Studies,25, 491–500.
Croxton, F. E., &Stryker, R. E. (1927). Bar charts versus circle diagrams.Journal of the American Statistical Association,22, 473–482.
Dempsey, J. V.,Fisher, S., &Marousky, R. (1994, April).Preference and use of information in instructional graphs. Paper presented at the annual conference of the National Consortium for Instruction and Cognition, New Orleans.
Feeney, M. (1994, March 11). Beyond the voodoo stick: If a picture is worth a thousand words, how many words is an information graphic worth?The Boston Globe Magazine, pp. 10–18.
Jackson, D. F., Edwards, B. J., &Berger, C. F. (1993). Teaching the design and interpretations of graphs through computer-aided graphical data analysis.Journal of Research in Science Teaching,30, 483–501.
Jones, R. W., &Careras, I. E. (1996). The empirical investigation of factors affecting graphical visualization.Behavior Research Methods, Instruments, & Computers,28, 265–269.
Lewandowsky, S., &Spence, I. (1989). The perception of statistical graphs.Sociological Methods & Research,18, 200–241.
Lohse, G., Walker, N., Biolsi, K., &Reuter, H. (1991). Classifying graphical information.Behaviour & Information Technology,10, 419–436.
Martin, J., Chiu, M-H., &Dailey, A. (1990). Graphing in the second grade.The Computing Teacher,18, 28–32.
Mayr, G. von (1874).Gutrachten über die Anwendung der graphischen und geographischen Methoden in der Statistik [Opinions on the use of graphical and geographical methods in statistics]. Munich: J. Gotteswinter & Mossl.
Microsoft Corporation (1995).Visual Basic (Professional Version 4.0). Redmond, WA: Author.
Morley, S. R., &Adams, M. (1991). Graphical analysis of single case time series data.British Journal of Clinical Psychology,30, 97–115.
Pinker, S. (1990). A theory of graph comprehension. In R. Freedle (Ed.),Artificial intelligence and the future of testing (pp. 73–126). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Rangecroft, M. (1991). Graphwork, developing a progression: A diversity of graphs.Teaching Statistics,13, 90–92.
Sanderson, P. M., Flach, J. M., Buttigieg, M. A., &Casey, E. J. (1989). Object displays do not always support better integrated task performance.Human Factors,31, 183–198.
Tall, D. (1992). Visualizing differentials in two and three dimensions.Teaching Mathematics & Its Applications,11, 1–7.
Tufte, E. R. (1983).The visual display of quantitative information. Cheshire, CT: Graphics Press.
Tversky, B., &Schiano, D. J. (1989). Perceptual and conceptual factors in distortions in memory for graphs and maps.Journal of Experimental Psychology: General,118, 387–398.
Warner, J. W., &Jones, R. W. (1997).Graphing components [Computer program]. Melbourne: University of Melbourne.
Watson, J., &Pereira-Mendoza, L. (1996). Reading and predicting from bar graphs.Australian Journal of Language & Literacy,19, 244–258.
Wickens, C. D., &Andre, A. D. (1990). Proximity compatibility and information display: Effects of color, space, and objectiveness on information integration.Human Factors,32, 61–77.