The use of maps in the exploration of geographic data

Fragments of test sessions.

Note: The fragments are available for Windows Media Player or Quicktime. Depending on the player you are using, click the appropriate link.

Demonstration of a typical part of a test session (Quicktime / WMV)

Synchronized recordings of:

1. The things that are happening in the test environment (consultation of a paper soil map, including the thinking aloud) (bottom left corner)
2. The things that are happening on the computer screen of the research assistant (here displaying an existing digital map that has just been consulted) (bottom right corner)
3. The graphic model construction on the computer screen of the test person (top right corner)

Query of the Overijssel metadatabase during a test session (Quicktime / WMV)

Searching maps or data on economy/agriculture and retrieving an existing ArcGIS map document.

Adjustment of an existing ArcGIS map document (Quicktime / WMV)

Fragment of a test session in which a test person changes the data classification to see more diversity in the spatial distribution in the central part of Overijssel. Because of this adjustment of the existing ArcGIS map document, by default the way of cartographic representation changes from a bivariate choropleth map into a single graded series of tints. The test person accepts the new (and "wrong") way of representation, but correctly interprets the resulting map.

Generating a new map with ArcGIS (Quicktime / WMV)

Fragment of a test session in which a test person is generating his own map from raw attribute data (percentage of incoming commuters of the total working force per municipality). In doing so, he is accepting most of the defaults offered by the software. The new map is generated to test one hypothesis regarding the geographic structure of Overijssel.

Demonstration of the usefulness of video recordings (Quicktime / WMV)

Fragment of a test session in which a test person wants to generate his own map. Here, it is clearly demonstrated that video recordings are an useful addition to sound recordings of the thinking aloud: the test person could not make clear with words what kind of map he wanted, but with gestures he could.

Formulation of geographic questions (Quicktime / WMV)

Demonstration of the disjointed ways in which geographic questions may be formulated during the exploration of geographic data.

Supply-driven preference for existing paper maps (Quicktime / WMV)

Fragment of a test session in which a test person wants to generate his own map. Here, it is clearly demonstrated that video recordings are an useful addition to sound recordings of the thinking aloud: the test person could not make clear with words what kind of map he wanted, but with gestures he could.

Map selection process influenced by the order in which the search results are presented (Quicktime / WMV)

Fragment of a test session in which a test person immediately wants to have a look at the first two paper maps that result from a search on Economy>All categories. She walks to these paper maps without considering the metadata nor the resulting attribute data or existing digital maps.

Note: Thinking aloud in Dutch!

Demonstration of the preference to start the exploration of geographic data by browsing through a paper atlas (Quicktime / WMV)

Despite the clear instructions provided that a metadatabase is available for consultation, this test person starts his exploration by consulting a paper atlas which is familiar to him. Apparently, the test person noticed this atlas when entering the research laboratory. Example of supply-driven map selection.