The Effects of Modes of Information Presentation on Decision-Making: A Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract:

This study investigates the impact of modes of information presentation on information dimensions. Twenty-four published studies were reviewed. The results of sixteen of these were cumulated by application of meta-analysis technique. The ensuing results demonstrate that the bar presentation format is slightly better than the tabular one in terms of information precision; however, the face chart is superior to the tabular format with respect to relevancy, and the multicolor presentation is more relevant than the monocolor. In addition, two factors of influence (moderators) were verified. First, personality, which is classified as field-dependent and field-independent, acts as a moderator between color and information relevancy. Second, when comparing line graphical presentations with tabular, task environment has a moderate effect on both timesaving and precision.

Key Words and Phrases::

• Information media
• graphics in information systems

Additional information

Notes on contributors

A. R. Montazemi

Ali R. Montazemi is Assistant Professor of Information Systems at McMaster University. He received his M.Sc. in Management Science from University of Southampton, England, and his Ph.D. from the University of Waterloo, Canada. His research interests include information requirements analysis, decision theory, and the design of decision support systems. His papers on these topics have been published in MIS Quarterly, IEEE Transaction on Man, Systems and Cybernetics, Journal of Operational Research Society, and INFOR. He is a member of ACM, CORS, DSI, and TIMS.

S. Wang

Shouhong Wang is a doctoral candidate in the Faculty of Business at McMaster University. His work experience includes manager of production at Hangdang Iron and Steel Co., and MIS lecturer at the Tsinghua University, Beijing, China. Mr. Wang’s research interests include modes of information presentation and information requirements analysis.