Experimental Use of the Search Task in an Analysis of Type Legibility in Cartography

Abstract

Search was used as an experimental task to investigate one aspect of legibility in cartographic typography. Subjects searched a variety of maps under several different conditions. There are four major conclusions from this research. For random search of the maps containing only one typeface, the typographic variation from map to map did not produce a significant effect on average search time. On mixed-type maps, search is slowed if the user has no correct expectation of the appearance of the type in which the target name will appear. On these same maps, search is greatly speeded if the user has a correct expectation of the target name appearance. Search time in a one-name task is less a function of typography than it is of many other factors.