<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Map and geospatial information is an essential tool in many fields of human activities. Although cartographers were extensively involved in cognitive map design research during the second part of the 20<sup>th</sup> century, the map use process as well as the significance of individual map design elements have not been studied in sufficient depth. The article discusses the results of a controlled experiment. The exploratory study aimed to simulate the execution of some problem-solving tasks based on the information derived from thematic maps with differently designed legends, viz.: <italic>list-legend</italic>, <italic>grouping-legend</italic> and <italic>natural-legend</italic>. On the basis of think-aloud protocols, it has been confirmed that some differences in map reading depend on the legend used.</p></abstract>

Map and geospatial information is an essential tool in many fields of human activities. Although cartographers were extensively involved in cognitive map design research during the second part of the 20th century, the map use process as well as the significance of individual map design elements have not been studied in sufficient depth. The article discusses the results of a controlled experiment. The exploratory study aimed to simulate the execution of some problem-solving tasks based on the information derived from thematic maps with differently designed legends, viz.: list-legend, grouping-legend and natural-legend. On the basis of think-aloud protocols, it has been confirmed that some differences in map reading depend on the legend used.

The Role of Map Legends in the Process of Map Use. Conclusions from An Exploratory Study

Faculty of Geography and Regional Studies Department of Cartography

Miscellanea Geographica

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Map and geospatial information is an essential tool in many fields of human activities. Although cartographers were extensively involved in cognitive map...

The Role of Map Legends in the Process of Map Use. Conclusions from An Exploratory Study

Published Online: Nov 25, 2018

Page range: 341 - 348

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/mgrsd-2010-0033

Keywords
map legend, map use, think-aloud method

© 2010 Izabela Gołębiowska, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

The Role of Map Legends in the Process of Map Use. Conclusions from An Exploratory Study

Published Online: Nov 25, 2018

Page range: 341 - 348

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/mgrsd-2010-0033

Keywordsmap legend, map use, think-aloud method

© 2010 Izabela Gołębiowska, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
map legend, map use, think-aloud method