Framework for Studying Spatially Ordered Treemaps

Abstract

We propose a comprehensive research framework to empirically investigate complex visual inference tasks, support mechanisms (animated transition using morphing or vector overlay), and how spatial ability affects people’s learning and knowledge construction process from Spatially Ordered Treemaps (SOTs) as compared to conventional choropleth maps. This effort is inspired by the call of the new International Cartographic Association commission on Cognitive Visualization (CogVis), which proposes “developing a sound theoretical framework based upon cognition and perception discipline” (Fabrikant, 2011). The framework aims to explore SOTs in the context of both ‘in-vitro’ and ‘in-vivo’ settings. This study is grounded in cartography but also conforms to experimental design standards in per-ception and cognitive sciences