Effects of map design characteristics on users' search performance and cognitive load: An empirical study

Hosam Al-Samarraie; Atef Eldenfria; Melissa Lee Price; Fahed Zaqout; Wan Mohamad Fauzy

doi:10.1108/EL-10-2018-0202

Effects of map design characteristics on users' search performance and cognitive load: An empirical study

Hosam Al-Samarraie, Atef Eldenfria, Melissa Lee Price, Fahed Zaqout, Wan Mohamad Fauzy

School of Media and Performing Arts

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

132 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the influence of map design characteristics on users’ cognitive load and search performance. Two design conditions (symbolic vs non-symbolic) were used to evaluate users’ ability to locate a place of interest. Design/methodology/approach A total of 19 students (10 male and 9 female, 20-23 years old) participated in this study. The time required for subjects to find a place in the two conditions was used to estimate their searching performance. An electroencephalogram (EEG) device was used to examine students’ cognitive load using event-related desynchronization percentages of alpha, beta and theta brain wave rhythms. Findings The results showed that subjects needed more time to find a place in the non-symbolic condition than the symbolic condition. The EEG data, however, revealed that users experienced higher cognitive load when searching for a place in the symbolic condition. The authors found that the design characteristics of the map significantly influenced users’ brain activity, thus impacting their search performance. Originality/value Outcomes from this study can be used by cartographic designers and scholars to understand how certain design characteristics can trigger cognitive activity to improve users' searching experience and efficiency.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	667-679
Number of pages	13
Journal	The Electronic Library
Volume	37
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1108/EL-10-2018-0202
Publication status	Published - 5 Aug 2019

Bibliographical note

Copyright © and Moral Rights are retained by the author(s) and/ or other copyright owners. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This item cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder(s). The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders.

Keywords

Information visualization
Cognitive load
Information processing
Symbolic maps

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10.1108/EL-10-2018-0202

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Cite this

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title = "Effects of map design characteristics on users' search performance and cognitive load: An empirical study",

abstract = "Purpose This paper aims to investigate the influence of map design characteristics on users{\textquoteright} cognitive load and search performance. Two design conditions (symbolic vs non-symbolic) were used to evaluate users{\textquoteright} ability to locate a place of interest. Design/methodology/approach A total of 19 students (10 male and 9 female, 20-23 years old) participated in this study. The time required for subjects to find a place in the two conditions was used to estimate their searching performance. An electroencephalogram (EEG) device was used to examine students{\textquoteright} cognitive load using event-related desynchronization percentages of alpha, beta and theta brain wave rhythms. Findings The results showed that subjects needed more time to find a place in the non-symbolic condition than the symbolic condition. The EEG data, however, revealed that users experienced higher cognitive load when searching for a place in the symbolic condition. The authors found that the design characteristics of the map significantly influenced users{\textquoteright} brain activity, thus impacting their search performance. Originality/value Outcomes from this study can be used by cartographic designers and scholars to understand how certain design characteristics can trigger cognitive activity to improve users' searching experience and efficiency.",

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AU - Fauzy, Wan Mohamad

N1 - Copyright © and Moral Rights are retained by the author(s) and/ or other copyright owners. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This item cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder(s). The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders.

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N2 - Purpose This paper aims to investigate the influence of map design characteristics on users’ cognitive load and search performance. Two design conditions (symbolic vs non-symbolic) were used to evaluate users’ ability to locate a place of interest. Design/methodology/approach A total of 19 students (10 male and 9 female, 20-23 years old) participated in this study. The time required for subjects to find a place in the two conditions was used to estimate their searching performance. An electroencephalogram (EEG) device was used to examine students’ cognitive load using event-related desynchronization percentages of alpha, beta and theta brain wave rhythms. Findings The results showed that subjects needed more time to find a place in the non-symbolic condition than the symbolic condition. The EEG data, however, revealed that users experienced higher cognitive load when searching for a place in the symbolic condition. The authors found that the design characteristics of the map significantly influenced users’ brain activity, thus impacting their search performance. Originality/value Outcomes from this study can be used by cartographic designers and scholars to understand how certain design characteristics can trigger cognitive activity to improve users' searching experience and efficiency.

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Effects of map design characteristics on users' search performance and cognitive load: An empirical study

Abstract

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Keywords

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