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Improving spatial decision making using interactive maps: An empirical study on interface complexity and decision complexity in the North American hazardous waste trade

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  • Kristen Vincent
  • Robert E Roth
  • Sarah A Moore
  • Qunying Huang
  • Nick Lally
  • Carl M Sack
  • Eric Nost
  • Heather Rosenfeld

Abstract

Spatial decisions increasingly are made by both professional and citizen stakeholders using interactive maps, yet few empirically-derived guidelines exist for designing interactive maps that support complex reasoning and decision making across problem contexts. We address this gap through an online map study with 122 participants with varying expertise. The study required participants to assume two hypothetical scenarios in the North American hazardous waste trade, review geographic information on environmental justice impacts using a different interactive map for each scenario, and arrive at an optimal decision outcome. This study followed a 2 × 2 factorial design, varying interface complexity (the number of supported interaction operators) and decision complexity (the number of decision criteria) as the independent variables and controlling for participant expertise with the hazardous waste trade and other aspects of cartographic design. Our findings indicate that interface complexity, not decision complexity, influenced decision outcomes, with participants arriving at better decisions using the simpler interface. However, expertise was a moderating effect, with experts and non-experts using different interaction strategies to arrive at their decisions. The research contributes to cartography, geovisualization, spatial decision science, urban planning, and visual analytics as well as to scholarship on environmental justice, the geography of hazardous waste, and participatory mapping.

Suggested Citation

  • Kristen Vincent & Robert E Roth & Sarah A Moore & Qunying Huang & Nick Lally & Carl M Sack & Eric Nost & Heather Rosenfeld, 2019. "Improving spatial decision making using interactive maps: An empirical study on interface complexity and decision complexity in the North American hazardous waste trade," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 46(9), pages 1706-1723, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:sae:envirb:v:46:y:2019:i:9:p:1706-1723
    DOI: 10.1177/2399808318764122
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Einhorn, Hj & Hogarth, Rm, 1981. "Behavioral Decision-Theory - Processes Of Judgment And Choice," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 19(1), pages 1-31.
    2. Eric Nost & Heather Rosenfeld & Kristen Vincent & Sarah A. Moore & Robert E. Roth, 2017. "HazMatMapper: an online and interactive geographic visualization tool for exploring transnational flows of hazardous waste and environmental justice," Journal of Maps, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 13(1), pages 14-23, January.
    3. Francisco Lara-Valencia & Sioban Harlow & Maria Carmen Lemos & Catalina Denman, 2009. "Equity dimensions of hazardous waste generation in rapidly industrialising cities along the United States-Mexico border," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 52(2), pages 195-216.
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    Cited by:

    1. Johannes Mueller & Shiho Asada & Ludovica Tomarchio, 2020. "Engaging the Crowd: Lessons for Outreach and Tool Design From a Creative Online Participatory Study," International Journal of E-Planning Research (IJEPR), IGI Global, vol. 9(2), pages 1-14, April.
    2. M. Pilar Latorre & Margarita Martinez-Nuñez & Carmen Callao, 2021. "Modelling and analysing the relationship between innovation and the European Regulations on hazardous waste shipments," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 21(4), pages 575-594, December.
    3. Johannes Mueller & Shiho Asada & Ludovica Tomarchio, 2020. "Engaging the Crowd: Lessons for Outreach and Tool Design From a Creative Online Participatory Study," International Journal of E-Planning Research (IJEPR), IGI Global, vol. 9(2), pages 66-79, April.

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