Genealogy That Counts: Using Content Analysis to Explore the Evolution of Persuasive Cartography

Abstract

Maps are often used for persuasive purposes. Yet little is known about whether or not different persuasive map producers use similar cartographic techniques or about how such techniques have evolved through time. This article explores the genealogy of persuasive map design by analyzing 256 such maps published since 1800. Quantitative content analysis is used to break down each map among 190 contextual, data, design, and layout variables. Cross-tabulations and descriptive statistics are used to test whether and how the characteristics of persuasive maps have changed over time and differ by type of producer. The results illustrate that although some persuasive techniques have changed over time and by producer, most techniques are recurring and used by all types of producers. The results imply that different techniques of persuasive cartography are largely timeless, regardless of producer or medium. It is also argued that content analysis may prove a useful method for other research in map genealogy. RésuméLes cartes sont souvent utilisées dans un but de persuasion. Toutefois, on ne sait pas vraiment si les divers producteurs de cartes persuasives utilisent tous les mêmes techniques cartographiques. On ignore aussi comment ces techniques ont évolué. Dans l'article, on explore l'évolution de ces techniques en analysant 256 cartes persuasives publiées depuis 1800. À l'aide d'une analyse du contenu quantitatif, on évalue chaque carte en tenant compte de 190 variables relatives au contexte, aux données, à la conception et à la disposition. Des tabulations recoupées et des statistiques descriptives sont utilisées pour déterminer si les caractéristiques des cartes persuasives ont changé avec le temps, et pour analyser cette évolution le cas échéant. De plus, on évalue les différences qu'on trouve entre les divers types de cartographes. Les résultats montrent que même si certaines techniques persuasives ont changé avec le temps ou d'un cartographe à l'autre, la plupart des techniques sont récurrentes et sont utilisées par tous les types de cartographes. Ces résultats supposent que certaines techniques de cartographie persuasive sont grandement intemporelles, peu importe le producteur ou le soutient technique. L'analyse du contenu pourrait aussi s'avérer une méthode utile pour d'autres recherches en généalogie cartographique.

The design and composition of persuasive maps

“…Maps are used to make arguments (Harley 1989;Muehlenhaus 2011a;Wood and Fels 1992). It has been shown that maps play a key role in shaping people's beliefs about their environment and the world around them.…”

“…For example, manipulative techniques used to convince consumers about the ubiquity of different mobile phone networks are similar to those found on North American maps from the 1800s showing the breadth of a certain railroad network. Muehlenhaus (2011a) also illustrated that persuasive maps may possess a parallel but distinct genealogy from thematic maps. In many ways, analyzing scientific maps is more straightforward than figuring out how to analyze persuasive maps.…”

Special feature: extracting geography from cartoons in a war context

“…The process followed is similar as far as it goes to the Quantitative Content Analysis (QCA) process used by Muehlenhaus (2011) in his investigation of 'persuasive cartography' over history. QCA has rarely been applied to maps, being originally developed for analysis of texts and subsequently adapted for images and videos.…”

“…In QCA, there is the initial definition of variables sought after in the artefacts being investigated (Muehlenhaus identified 192 variables); these variables are listed with the artefact if they are present (in a process called coding). The data thus generated forms the basis for quantitative analysis of the collection of artefacts (Muehlenhaus 2011), which is beyond the scope of this paper. Out of the 77 cartoons collated, this was how the geographic content was distributed.…”

Cognitive Themes Emerging from Air Photo Interpretation Texts Published to 1960

“…While content analysis has been used for quite some time in historical geographic analysis [40], its integration into GIScience methods is more recent. Content analysis has been used by geographers to analyze both text documents [41] and maps [42][43][44][45]. Whether used for the analysis of text or visual media, content analysis is useful for the study of patterns emerging in communication artifacts and the process remains much the same: documents are collected, systematic data reduction is carried out using thematic coding, analysis of the codes is conducted, and the results are interpreted [46].…”