Roberts M – OBJECTIVE AND SUBJECTIVE METHODS FOR EVALUATING THE USABILITY OF SCHEMATIC MAPS 2023

Description

“Objective and Subjective Methods for Evaluating the Usability of Schematic Maps: The Case Against Informal Expert Assessments” is an 18-page, peer-reviewed paper authored by Maxwell J. Roberts (University of Essex). Published in The Cartographic Journal, Vol. 60, No. 4 (2023), and made available as Open Access under a CC BY-NC-ND license by Taylor & Francis, this article offers a rigorous and critical examination of how transit map usability is assessed. Accepted in August 2023, it represents contemporary scholarship in the field. The document is enhanced by several vibrant, full-color figures showcasing real-world schematic maps, notably diverse examples from the Paris Metro, which serve to illustrate key arguments. This well-researched paper is a trustworthy resource for cartographers, graphic designers, and researchers, advocating for robust, empirically-driven evaluation methods over subjective expert assessments.