The Role of the Magnitude of Change in Detecting Fixed Enumeration Units on Dynamic Choropleth Maps

ABSTRACT

Dynamic maps are commonly used for the depiction of quantitative information. However, their users often fail to notice changes in the intensity of geographic phenomena. Moreover, if the distribution of colour values between two scenes changes, the user might have a problem with recalling the colour arrangement from the previous scene. A commonly occurring mistake is indicating that the colour changed its value, while in reality it did not. This paper examines the potential impact of the magnitude of change on the detection of the fixed enumeration units of a dynamic choropleth map. The research is based on Signal Detection Theory methodology and uses eye-tracking technology to examine the change blindness phenomenon on spatiotemporal maps. The results show that regardless of the magnitude of change and the number of enumeration units, the participants were convinced that the colour value in a particular place changed, even though it did not.

KEYWORDS:

• Animated map
• eye-tracking
• change blindness
• eye movement analysis
• cartography
• choropleth map

Acknowledgments

This study received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. The paper is the result of research carried out within statutory research in the Department of Cartography and Geomatics, Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, in Poland.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Paweł Cybulski

Paweł Cybulski is an Assistant Professor at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Poland. He works in Department of Cartography and Geomatics and his main research interests are related to the use of eye-tracking in cartographic research to improve the quality of maps and understanding of map perception.