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UBC Theses and Dissertations
The effects of dot/line and bar/line combination graphs on proficiency of search, evaluation, and choice of graphical format in a policy decision context Forrester, Darlene Aura
Abstract
Graphs reveal complex data by displaying answers to questions concerning details, relationships, and trends (Wainer, 1992). This study evaluated combination bar/line versus dot/line graphical formats in terms of presenting information at these three search levels. The formats were explored for proficiency, time to complete, and preference when presenting information. Forty volunteer trustees of health care organizations were randomly assigned to two groups. The Graphicacy Test (Wainer, 1980) was examined as a pretest for graphic research. Neither graphicacy, education, service on a board, or financial management experience showed a significant influence. Each group read financial reports in two presentations: one in combination bar/line and the other in combination dot/line graphical format. The findings were discussed in terms of their practical application. The bar/line graph was found to be significantly better than the dot/line format for the proficient search for details, relationships, and trends when in the second presentation. The subjects evaluated the formats in terms of ease of understanding and use. After experiencing both formats, they rated the bar/line significantly higher than the dot/line for clarity, readability, accuracy and overall satisfaction. The trustees chose the combination bar/line format for presenting information in the experiment and in their own organizations.
Item Metadata
Title |
The effects of dot/line and bar/line combination graphs on proficiency of search, evaluation, and choice of graphical format in a policy decision context
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Creator | |
Publisher |
University of British Columbia
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Date Issued |
1995
|
Description |
Graphs reveal complex data by displaying answers to questions
concerning details, relationships, and trends (Wainer, 1992).
This study evaluated combination bar/line versus dot/line
graphical formats in terms of presenting information at these
three search levels. The formats were explored for proficiency,
time to complete, and preference when presenting information.
Forty volunteer trustees of health care organizations were
randomly assigned to two groups. The Graphicacy Test (Wainer,
1980) was examined as a pretest for graphic research. Neither
graphicacy, education, service on a board, or financial
management experience showed a significant influence. Each group
read financial reports in two presentations: one in combination
bar/line and the other in combination dot/line graphical format.
The findings were discussed in terms of their practical
application. The bar/line graph was found to be significantly
better than the dot/line format for the proficient search for
details, relationships, and trends when in the second
presentation. The subjects evaluated the formats in terms of
ease of understanding and use. After experiencing both formats,
they rated the bar/line significantly higher than the dot/line
for clarity, readability, accuracy and overall satisfaction. The
trustees chose the combination bar/line format for presenting
information in the experiment and in their own organizations.
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Extent |
6692051 bytes
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Genre | |
Type | |
File Format |
application/pdf
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Language |
eng
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Date Available |
2009-01-12
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Provider |
Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
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Rights |
For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.
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DOI |
10.14288/1.0098926
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URI | |
Degree | |
Program | |
Affiliation | |
Degree Grantor |
University of British Columbia
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Graduation Date |
1995-05
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Campus | |
Scholarly Level |
Graduate
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Aggregated Source Repository |
DSpace
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Item Media
Item Citations and Data
Rights
For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.