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COMPUTER GRAPHICS AS DECISION AIDS: DIRECTIONS FOR RESEARCH *
Author(s) -
DeSanctis Gerardine
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
decision sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.238
H-Index - 108
eISSN - 1540-5915
pISSN - 0011-7315
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-5915.1984.tb01236.x
Subject(s) - computer science , graphics , computer graphics , comprehension , human–computer interaction , graph , data science , decision aids , statistical graphics , interpretation (philosophy) , quality (philosophy) , artificial intelligence , computer graphics (images) , theoretical computer science , medicine , philosophy , alternative medicine , epistemology , pathology , programming language
Computer‐generated graphics are becoming increasingly available to decision makers. Despite claims on the part of vendors that the use of graphics will improve decision speed and quality over traditional methods of data display, the available evidence is far from supportive. Initial studies show graphics to be no more effective in communicating information than tables. Correct interpretation of graphical displays appears to require training, which most users lack. Furthermore, there is evidence that those features that make a graph visually attractive—such as color, design complexity, and realism—may actually detract from accurate comprehension. This paper summarizes the literature dealing with the human use of graphics, develops several propositions based on persistent trends in the literature, and suggests directions for future research.