Using concrete scales: a practical framework for effective visual depiction of complex measures.

Area of Science:

• Data Visualization
• Cognitive Science
• Information Design

Background:

• Quantitative information often involves extreme magnitudes or unfamiliar units, hindering comprehension.
• Current practices rely on visual re-expression for understanding complex measures.
• No established design guidelines exist for "concrete scales" used in various settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel framework for the analysis and design of concrete scales.
• To provide practical guidance for creating effective visual representations of complex quantitative data.
• To fill the void in existing design guidelines for concrete scales.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of graphic compositions featuring complex measures.
• Extensive literature review on scale cognition mechanisms.
• Development of a framework outlining the design space of measure relations and visual representations.

Main Results:

• Identification of various measure relations for re-expressing complex data.
• Definition of visual representations for these re-expressed measures.
• Establishment of a design space for concrete scale creation.

Conclusions:

• The proposed framework offers practical guidance for designing concrete scales.
• Concrete scales can enhance the comprehension of complex quantitative information.
• The research contributes to the fields of data visualization and information design by providing much-needed guidelines.