Exploring the Effect of Word-Scale Visualizations on Reading Behavior

Abstract

We studied how the integration of small visualizations (wordscale visualizations) into a sentence affects reading speed and memorization during a brief reading task. In particular, we were interested in how different placement types-with their inherent text appearance and layout changes-affect readers. We designed a quantitative study in which we gave sentences with or without visualizations for participants to read. Then, we invited them to answer questions on the sentences. We found that the information encoded in the visualizations is more prominent and easily remembered than information in the written text, but that different placement options had little to no effect on reading performance, even if participants had different preferences.

A Systematic Review of Experimental Studies on Data Glyphs

“…Color (linear: 9.38 percent, circular: 3.13 percent) and orientation encodings (linear: 3.13 percent, circular: 0 percent) have received little research attention. We found only two studies [54], [55] that compared different linear position/length design variations. This is an interesting research gap given that profile glyphs that use this encoding are well established in practice (i.e., sparklines [93], profiles [11]).…”

“…In seven studies (10.94 percent) a single data point was shown to participants at a time [48], [49], [50], [54], [55], [64], [91]. These studies tried to control all parameters and avoid …”

“…Patients rated by psychiatrists [21] Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory Medical data [32] unknown Medical images [56] unknown Cars dataset [34] http://davis.wpi.edu/ xmdv/datasets/cars.html Project plans [35] unknown MM5 weather information [36] unknown Weather information [37] NCEP forecast model Weather information [42] Operational Regional Atmospheric Prediction System Modified U.S. census data [38] unknown Financial data [40] Investment in education USA (2008) Financial data [84] Wall Street Journal Index (1974 and 1975) Financial data [85] Standard and Poor's firm list (1974 and 1975) Classical music data [41] unknown k data [43] Lostpedia wiki edits Network data [44] 10 best ranked movies (IMDb) Google search results [45] http://www.google.de Marathon runners [50] unknown Power plant statistics [53] unknown Audio information [62] One laptop per child sound library Biological data [70] unknown Economic variables [77] U.S. Department of commerce & labor Tensor data [92] DTI dataset possible confounding factors, so as to better reason about changes in performance when modifying specific aspects of the same design [91], or when comparing it with other representations [48], [49], [50], [54], [64], or layouts [55].…”

“…An overview of different dimensionality settings is provided in Table 4. Three papers did not report about the number of dimensions encoded by the glyph designs [43], [55], [62].…”

“…Four studies investigated the influence of positioning or background information on the performance of data glyphs [36], [39], [55], [62].…”