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Visual routines are associated with specific graph interpretations.

Audrey L Michal1, Steven L Franconeri1

  • 1Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, 2029 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208 USA.

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications
|April 4, 2017
PubMed
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People use visual routines to interpret graph data, systematically focusing on specific features. These routines influence how graph information is processed and understood, impacting STEM education and design.

Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Human-Computer Interaction
  • Data Visualization

Background:

  • Graphs are crucial for data interpretation in STEM fields.
  • Understanding how people visually process graph information is key to effective design and pedagogy.
  • Previous research suggests systematic patterns in graph viewing, termed visual routines.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether visual routines are a byproduct of cognitive limitations or actively shape graph interpretation.
  • To determine if visual routines are specific to the type of data being analyzed.
  • To explore the role of top-down control in graph comprehension.

Main Methods:

  • Eye movements were tracked as participants judged two-bar graphs based on size or contrast.
Keywords:
Embodied cognitionGraph comprehensionRelationsSTEM learningVisual routines

Related Experiment Videos

  • Participants evaluated graphs with single relevant dimensions and then with orthogonal dimensions (relevant and irrelevant).
  • Response times and visual attention patterns were analyzed.

    • Main Results:

    • Participants demonstrated consistent visual routines, prioritizing specific features (e.g., taller bar for size, darker bar for contrast).
    • These routines were applied to the task-relevant dimension even when other dimensions were present.
    • Response times were faster for congruent stimuli (task-relevant and irrelevant features on the same object), indicating interference from irrelevant information.

    Conclusions:

    • Visual routines are linked to specific graph interpretations and are not merely a result of capacity limitations.
    • The findings suggest that extracting relevant information from graphs may require active top-down control.
    • Understanding visual routines has significant implications for improving graph design and STEM education.