Theme 3: Visualization

Theme 3: Visualization

1. How visual representations of data enable individual sensemaking in data exploration tasks

   • Give a general characterization of visual representations that would be used for data exploration tasks. These representations consist of a scene, objects within the scene, and the characteristics of those objects.
   • Extend Cognitive Fit Theory into the data exploration task domain. We explain that the data exploration task has a number of spatial subtasks including observing data points, looking for patterns or outliers, making inferences, comparing observed facts or patterns to one’s own knowledge, generating hypotheses about the data, and drawing analogies from the context being observed to another context.extend Cognitive Fit Theory into the data exploration task domain. We explain that the data exploration task has a number of spatial subtasks including observing data points, looking for patterns or outliers, making inferences, comparing observed facts or patterns to one’s own knowledge, generating hypotheses about the data, and drawing analogies from the context being observed to another context.
   • A set of theoretical propositions about how visual representations of data can serve the sensemaking goal. Visual representations should possess several of these four aspects to make them well-suited for the task of data exploration.
     • (1) support the four basic human visual perceptual approaches of association, differentiation, ordered perception, and quantitative perception.
     • (2) have strong Gestalt properties.
     • (3) are consistent with the viewer’s stored knowledge.
     • (4) support analogical reasoning.

2. A visual representation should highlight, rather than hide, patterns in the data, and, ideally, should enable the viewer’s attempt to derive meaning from patterns in the data.

3. Analysis of narrative visualization—visualizations intended to convey stories.

   • Distinct genres of visualization
     • Martini glass
     • Interactive slideshow
     • Drill-down story
     • Central concern: Balancing Author-Driven and Reader-Driven Stories
   • Genres of Narrative Visualization
     • Magazine style
     • Annotated chart
     • Partitioned poster
     • Flow chart
     • Comic strip
     • Slide show
     • Film/video/animation
   • Design Space Observations
     • (1) the clustering of different ordering structures
     • (2) the consistency of interaction design
     • (3) the under-utilization of narrative messaging

4. Decision Performance • Quality • Accuracy

   • Task Complexity • Simple • Complex
   • Task Type • Symbolic • Spatial
   • Information Presentation • Tables • Graphs
   • Results from the empirical analysis suggest that the relationship between information presentation format and decision performance is moderated by the complexity of the task. More specifically, spatial formats result in superior decision accuracy for simple- and complex-spatial tasks and faster decision time for all tasks except the complex-symbolic task where graphs and tables result in equivalent decision time.