Tonda Bone
University of North Texas Dena Johnson
Tarleton State University ISECON 2007
A Theoretical Framework for Investigating Human Factors in GIS Use: The Impact of
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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
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Research Gap
• We need to understand how human
factors influence GIS use
• For academic purposes
• GIS as a learning tool • GIS design
• For industry
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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”
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Human Spatial Information
Processing
• Hierarchical organization and categorization
• Chunking
• Category theory
• Cognitive mapping
• Of physical 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
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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
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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
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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
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Future Research
• Computer attitude and efficacy
• User interaction in context
• Mental models of GIS spatial
representations
• Map sketching with GIS
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The End
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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.
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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
