Mapping Bolivia’s socio-political climate: Evaluation of multivariate design strategies

ASU Author/Contributor (non-ASU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Cheryl A. Hagevik (Creator)
Institution
Appalachian State University (ASU )
Web Site: https://library.appstate.edu/
Advisor
Christopher Badurek

Abstract: This study investigated the effectiveness of multivariate mapping in displaying functional relationships using a case example of social and political data from Bolivia. The effectiveness of four approaches to multivariate mapping (combined sequential schemes, separable graduated circles, choropleth/proportional symbols, and pair of sequential schemes) in communicating these relationships was evaluated. A paper map survey in English and Spanish was administered to thirty-four participants in the United States and thirty in Bolivia using four multivariate maps and one control (separate maps). Significant results showed that viewing the datasets displayed in separate maps best transmitted the map message. The pair of sequential schemes approach received the highest scores when considering the multivariate mapping methods only. This approach also yielded higher scores from the Bolivian sample, suggesting that readers lacking map experience can benefit from this form of multivariate mapping. Cultural differences revealed among the two sample groups shows that when creating a study using a map based evaluation, it is best to fully investigate cultural characteristics that surround map reading prior to creating the evaluation tool. While this study did reveal benefits of certain approaches to multivariate mapping, these approaches should be further investigated based on regional and characteristic differences among groups.

Additional Information

Publication
Thesis
Hagevik, C.A. (2011). Mapping Bolivia’s socio-political climate: Evaluation of multivariate design strategies. Unpublished master’s thesis. Appalachian State University, Boone, NC.
Language: English
Date: 2011
Keywords
Cartography, Latin American Geography, Multivariate mapping, complex data relationships , Bolivia

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