User studies in cartography: opportunities for empirical research on interactive maps and visualizations

Figures & data

Table 1. Opportunities for empirical research on the design and use of interactive maps and visualizations.

Basic research on interactive maps and visualizations
1.	Expand qualitative and mixed-method research to confirm and enrich quantitative research in cartography
2.	Improve consistency and detail in the reporting of method designs
3.	Promote purposeful sampling of study participants and limit convenience sampling
4.	Adopt new approaches to treat interactive, online, and mobile maps and visualizations as unique study materials
5.	Define and assess high-level, insight-based tasks to complement benchmark tasks in user studies
6.	Complement laboratory and online studies with field studies
Adapting methods for UCD studies
7.	Establish gold standards for administering and assessing UCD studies on interactive maps and visualizations
8.	Streamline and contextualize the UCD process for interactive cartography and visualization
9.	Promote comprehensive UCD case studies
10.	Leverage UCD studies for participatory action research
11.	Conduct user-centered studies on the political economy of interactive cartography and visualization
Additional empirical needs in interactive cartography and visualization
12.	Articulate dimensions of interface complexity in user studies
13.	Develop strategies to compare static and interactive maps
14.	Investigate the value of interactivity in new map use cases
15.	Evaluate non-cartographic and neocartographic interfaces supporting map design and production
16.	Evaluate mobile interactions
17.	Develop and integrate design guidelines for interaction and representation in cartography