Visual Symbolic Processing in Modern Times

Olga Werby, Ed.D.Pipsqueak Productions, LLC

San Francisco, California, U.S.A.www.pipsqueak.com

Visual Symbolic Processing in Modern Times:

a small study on the comprehension of complex visual information

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Examples of Visual Information

Computer Tools Make Data Visualization Easy

Proliferation of Abstract Visual Data

Personal, Civic, Professional, Political Decisions based on Visual Data

Degree of Comprehension of Visual Data Varies

Visual Symbolic Processing Analysis

Perceiving: the ability to figure out a pattern of sequentially or

spatially arranged visual data

Remembering: the ability to remember a sequential or spatial

pattern of visual information

Making: the ability to create, organize, or arrange information in

a sequential or spatial visual pattern

Thinking: the ability to problem solve, to reason, and to think

critically about sequential or spatial visual information

Study Focus

PerceivingThinking

Visual Symbolic Processing SkillsLower order skills include:find visual information—the ability to find discrete information explicitly presented by a

diagram; understand and explain visual information—the ability to read and understand the

meanings of axis, units, and labels in a diagram and what they represent.

Higher order skills include:use visual information to generate new information—the ability to use data flexibly and

to generate additional information based on visual data presented in a diagram;summarize visual information—the ability to convert visual data into a language-based

story (requires deep understanding of the information); compare multiple visual representations—the ability to convert information found in

one diagram into data structures of another diagram and assign a value judgement on the quality and usefulness of each presentation.

Testing Visual Symbolic Processing Skills

Lower order skills—6 questions totalfind visual information—5 questionsunderstand and explain visual information—1 question

Higher order skills—10 questions totaluse visual information to generate new info.—5 questionssummarize visual information—4 questionscompare multiple visual representations—1 question

Sample Question: In the diagram above, Inspector General Minard illustrated the diminishing number of Napoleon troops marching to and from Moscow in several ways. Check all that you think apply.

1. At any point in the graph above, the thickness of the line representing Napoleon’s troops is in direct proportion to the number of soldiers marching in the army.

2. At any point in the graph above, the height of the line representing Napoleon’s troops is in direct proportion to the number of soldiers marching in the army.

3. The color of the line representing Napoleon’s troops indicates the number of soldiers marching in the army.

4. The slope of the line representing Napoleon’s troops indicates the number of soldiers marching in the army.

5. The numbers next to the line representing Napoleon’s troops state the number of soldiers marching in the army at that point.

6. The line graph at the bottom of the diagram plots the number of soldiers marching in the army at that point.

7. All of the above.8. This information can’t be obtained from the diagram above.9. I don’t know.