Roberts M, Gray and Lesnik – PREFERENCE VERSUS PERFORMANCE 2016

Description

This 60-page accepted manuscript, “Preference versus performance: Investigating the dissociation between objective measures and subjective ratings of usability for schematic metro maps and intuitive theories of design,” is an authoritative empirical study led by Maxwell J. Roberts, Hannah Gray, and Jennifer Lesnik. Dated June 24, 2016, it presents three rigorous experiments involving hundreds of participants across various metro networks (Paris, London, Berlin), using both objective performance metrics and subjective user ratings. The document is richly illustrated with seven figures detailing diverse schematic map designs and principles, which are integral to understanding the research. This comprehensive work is highly significant for cartography, human-computer interaction, and cognitive psychology, as it robustly demonstrates a dissociation between objective usability and subjective preference, challenges the “octolinearity as a gold standard” conjecture, and identifies prevalent intuitive theories of design among users. Its foundational insights remain highly relevant for optimizing transit map effectiveness and understanding user perception.