Data visualization that "fits": Designing effective dashboards for healthcare providers, patients, and family caregivers to patients with diabetes
Abstract
Information dashboards are at-a-glance displays that are intended to highlight the
most important information in order to help individuals solve problems and make better
decisions using data. User-centered design of dashboards is necessary because
different users have unique objectives when interacting with these displays. Due to
advances in technology access to data and visualization tools it is now possible and
creation of dashboards is now easier than ever. This also led to the popularity of
infographics or the visualization that uses icons and metaphors to represent information
on dashboards. Cognitive fit theory was used to explain the importance of considering
the type of task in explaining the effectiveness of different visualization types (tables
and graphs) and the type of information (spatial and symbolic) each visualization type
emphasizes (Vessey, 1991). However, previous literature on visualization only focused
on tables and graphs. While studies identified where and when graphs and tables were
effective, research on infographics is still in its infancy. This study examined the effects
of visualization type (table, graph, infographic) on accuracy, performance, and
preference for two different task types (symbolic, spatial) and information levels (daily,
monthly). Participants were 27 healthcare providers and 28 patients or family
caregivers. Results indicated that tables and infographics were the best displays for
symbolic tasks regardless of information type. Graphs were the best displays for
monthly information and spatial tasks. Infographics were the most preferred displays
overall. Consistent with previous studies, results indicated a mismatch between users'
performance and preference.
Description
Thesis (Ph.D.)-- Wichita State University, Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Dept. of Psychology