Transcript Cognitive Factors in GIS Use: A Review and Suggestions

A Theoretical Framework for
Investigating Human Factors in
GIS Use: The Impact of Spatial
Ability, Computer Aptitude,
and Cognition
Tonda Bone
University of North Texas
Dena Johnson
Tarleton State University
ISECON 2007
Research Gap
• Current research focuses on:
• Spatial abilities in context of map
reading task, cognitive map construction,
wayfinding experiments
• GIS as presentation device rather than as
a problem-solving tool
• Current research does not address:
• Cognitive style dimensions in context of
GIS use
• Computer aptitude as factor in GIS use
2
Research Gap
• We need to understand how human
factors influence GIS use
• For academic purposes
• GIS as a learning tool
• GIS design
• For industry
• GIS design
• GIS training
3
What is an Information System?
An information system “consists of
• at least one PERSON
• of a certain PSYCHOLOGICAL TYPE
• who faces a PROBLEM
• within some ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
• for which he needs evidence to arrive at a
solution
• and that the EVIDENCE is made available to
him
• through some MODE OF PRESENTATION”
(Mason & Mitroff, 1973, p. 475, emphasis in original, bullets
added).
4
What is a Geographic Information
System (GIS)?
• A spatially-referenced information system that
provides tools for collecting, managing,
integrating, analyzing, and displaying data that
is spatially referenced (Goodchild, Egenhofer, Kemp,
Mark, & Sheppard, 1999; Turk, 1990)
• Includes representations of locations, as well as
non-spatial data (attributes) that describe those
locations
• A structure incorporating 5 elements (Turk, 1990):
•
•
•
•
Data
Hardware
Software
Procedures
• People
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Spatial Cognition
• “The knowledge and internal or
cognitive representation of the
structure, entities, and relations of
space; in other words, the internalized
reflection and reconstruction of space in
thought” (Hart and Moore, 1973, p. 248)
• 3 distinct factors of spatial ability
• Spatial visualization
• Spatial manipulation
• Spatial relations
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Spatial Visualization
• Ability to mentally manipulate spatial
objects and configurations without
referring to one’s self as a reference
point (Albert & Golledge, 1999; Hegarty & Waller,
2005; McGee, 1979)
• May be important to GIS in the
function of moving map layers for
analysis and for display, and for
performing logical operations on
spatial elements
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Spatial Orientation
• Ability to imagine how a visual
stimulus or configuration looks from a
different perspective (Albert & Golledge,
1993)
• May be important to GIS because
operators have to change perspective
when dealing with 3D representations
before making inferences about the
data (Albert & Golledge, 1993)
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Spatial Relations
• Involves analyzing patterns, shape,
layout, hierarchy, and linkage
between individual stimuli within a
visual configuration (Albert & Golledge, 1993;
Gilmartin & Patton, 1984; Golledge, Dougherty, & Bell,
1995 )
• May be important in GIS functions of
identifying and categorizing features,
recognizing spatial association
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Map Reading Ability
• Data interaction occurs primarily
through the map interface; thus, map
interaction also is an important
component of GIS use (Lloyd & Bunch, 2003)
• How does information acquisition
from maps, including internal
representation, influence GIS use?
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Human Spatial Information
Processing
• Hierarchical organization and
categorization
• Chunking
• Category theory
• Cognitive mapping
• Of physical space
• Of virtual (computer) space
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Mental models and problem solving
• Mental modeling process “mirrors”
GIS analysis processes (Turk, 1990)
• Involves inferencing, context,
cognitive load, and past experiences
(Allen, 1996; Ramaprasad, 1987; Rauh, Knauff, Cuss,
Schlieder, and Strube, 2005; Tversky, 1993)
• Using GIS to model the problem space
could aid mental modeling
development
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Cognitive Styles
• Example: Need for cognition (NFC)
• Cohen, Stotland, and Wolfe (1955):
NFC as a need to structure one’s
environment
• Crossland, Herschel, Perkins, and
Scudder (2000): NFC as a measure “of
an individual’s internal motivation to
pursue and enjoy thinking activities”
(p. 17)
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Computer Aptitude
• Refers to literacy aspects of computer
and Internet technologies
• Computer use is a spatial task
• Affects performance on mental rotations
tests (De Lisi & Cammarano, 1996; Sacuzzo, Craig,
Johnson, & Larson, 1996; Terlecki & Newcombe 2005)
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Summary: Main Human Factors in GIS
Interaction
• Spatial abilities
• e.g., visualization, orientation, relations
• Map reading abilities
• Problem solving style
• Mental models
• Need for cognition
• Cognitive Style
• Computer attitude and efficacy
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Future Research
• Computer attitude and efficacy
• User interaction in context
• Mental models of GIS spatial
representations
• Map sketching with GIS
• Psychometric studies
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The End
Questions and comments?
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Works Cited
Albert, W. S., & Golledge, R. G. (1999).
The use of spatial cognitive abilities in
geographical information systems:
The map overlay operation.
Transactions in GIS, 3(1), 7-21.
Allen, B. L. (1996). Information tasks:
Toward a user-centered approach to
information systems. San Diego:
Academic Press.
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Works Cited (cont.)
Cohen, A. R., Stotland, E., & Wolfe, D. M.
(1955). An experimental investigation
of need for cognition. Journal of
Abnormal and Social Psychology, 51,
291-294.
Crossland, M. D., Herschel, R. T.,
Perkins, W. C., & Scudder, J. N. (2000).
The imact of task and cognitive style
on decision-making effectiveness
using a geographic information
system. Journal of End User
Computing, 21(1), 14-23.
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Works Cited (cont.)
De Lisi, R., & Cammarano, D. M. (1996).
Computer experience and gender
differences in undergraduate mental
rotation performance. Computers in
Human Behavior, 12(3), 351-361.
Gilmartin, P. P., & Patton, J. C. (1984).
Comparing the sexes on spatial
abilities: Map use skills. Annals of the
Association of American Geographers,
74(4), 605-619.
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Works Cited (cont.)
Golledge, R. G., Dougherty, V., & Bell, S.
(1995). Acquiring spatial knowledge:
Survey versus route-based knowledge
in unfamiliar environments. Annals of
the Association of American
Geographers, 85(1), 134-158.
Goodchild, M. F., Egenhofer, M. J., Kemp,
K. K., Mark, D. M., & Sheppard, E.
(1999). Introduction to the Varenius
Project. International Journal of
Geographical Information Science,
13(8), 731-745.
21
Works Cited (cont.)
Hart, R. A., & Moore, G. T. (1973). The
development of spatial cognition: A
review. In R. M. Downs & D. Stea
(Eds.), Image and environment:
Cognitive mapping and spatial
behavior (pp. 246-295). Chicago: Aldine
Publishing Co.
22
Works Cited (cont.)
Hegarty, M., & Waller, D. (2005).
Individual differences in spatial
abilities. In P. Shah & A. Miyake (Eds.),
The Cambridge handbook of
visuospatial thinking (pp. 120-169).
New York: Cambridge University
Press.
Lloyd, R. E., & Bunch, R. L. (2003).
Technology and map-learning: Users,
methods, and symbols. Annals of the
Association of American Geographers,
93(4), 828-850.
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Works Cited (cont.)
Mark, D. M. (1993). Human spatial cognition.
In D. Medyckyj-Scott & H. M. Hearnshaw
(Eds.), Human factors in geographic
information systems. London: Bellhaven.
McGee, M. G. (1979). Human spatial
abilities: Psychometric studies and
environmental, genetic, hormonal, and
neurological influences. Psychological
Bulletin, 86, 889-918.
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Works Cited (cont.)
Ramaprasad, A. (1987). Cognitive
process as a basis for MIS and DSS
design. Management Science, 33(2),
139-148.
Rauh, R., Hagen, C., Knauff, M., Kuss, T.,
Schlieder, C., & Strube, G. (2005).
Preferred and alternative mental
models in spatial reasoning. Spatial
Cognition and Computation, 5(2&3),
239-269.
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Works Cited (cont.)
Saccuzzo, D. P., Craig, A. S., Johnson, N.
E., & Larson, G. E. (1996). Gender
differences in dynamic spatial
abilities. Personality and Individual
Differences, 21(4), 599-607.
Terlecki, M. S., & Newcombe, N. S. (2005).
How important is the digital divide?
The relation of computer and
videogame usage to gender differences
in mental rotation ability. Sex Roles,
53(5/6), 433-441.
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Works Cited (cont.)
Turk, A. G. (1990). Towards an
understanding of human-computer
interaction aspects of geographic
information systems. Cartography, 19(1),
31-60.
Tversky, B. (1993). Cognitive maps,
cognitive collages, and spatial mental
models. In A. U. Frank & I. Campari
(Eds.), Proceedings of the International
Conference on Spatial Information
Theory: A theoretical basis for GIS (pp. 1424). Berlin: Springer-Verlag.
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Works Cited (cont.)
Velez, M. C., Silver, D., & Tremaine, M.
(2005, October 23-28). Understanding
visualization through spatial ability
differences. Paper presented at the
IEEE Visualization 2005, Minneapolis,
MN.
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