Eye Movement Parameters and Map Reading

This study was conducted to evaluate eye movement data and to begin exploration of eye movements as a surrogate measure of map readers' goals and objectives during examination of cartographic displays. Two groups of untrained subjects proved to be homogeneous over a range of 10 visual search parameters while viewing displays that were rendered with the same symbolism and data but with the enumeration district borders lacking on the map used by one group. It was anticipated that one sample would search for pattern while the other sample inspected the map symbols for numeric value and that differences in eye movement parameters would result. The expected pattern of search behavior associated with seeking absolute values from the displayed symbols was not apparent in the eye movement records. The results for both groups were movements that would be expected with an attempt to gather pattern information.