Output details

An empirical study on using visual embellishments in visualization

<20>

This is the second major empirical study on using visual embellishment (VE) in visualization. Traditionally VE was considered harmful to visualization. Bateman (2010) found that VE has positive impact on memorization, stimulating a charged debate on chart-junk in blogosphere during 2010-2011. This new study employed a dual-task methodology and more realistic stimuli than Bateman (2010). It made a new discovery about the negative impact on visual search and positive impact on concept grasping, while reinforcing Bateman’s finding on memorization. It also provided an explanation based on information theory and enabled a conclusive closure of the charged debate on chart-junk.