Selected Cognitive Issues of Positional Uncertainty in Geographical Data

Abstract

In accordance with the development of theoretical aspects of cartographic visualization and methods of uncertainty propagation in models, the generally accepted opinion argues that uncertainty has to be presented to users in an unambiguous and understandable way. Studies published in psychological literature prove that users react to presented information differently depending on the presentation method, the specific task and its context. The presented paper describes the process of test development for selected methods of cartographic visualization of positional uncertainty, the utilization of multivariate testing software tool for test processing, and its consequent evaluation. Results of testing are further discussed in comparison with similar studies which have been published.