The significance of the cartographic sign: influences of symbol shape on intuitive judgments

Some of the maps we encounter in our daily lives have become simpler and smaller, to the extent that they may employ only a single symbol to depict a particular incident. As maps and their symbols are never neutral, research on visual semiotics emphasizes the importance of exploring the implicit, connotative effects of signs on human responses. This study, therefore, aimed to assess the influence of simple monothematic web maps on map users’ judgments. It examined how the severity of negative geospatial events was perceived when represented by cartographic point symbols that varied in shape. In total, 72 maps (12 negative topics, each depicted by six map symbols) were rated by 82 participants. The results showed that asymmetric star symbols led to the highest estimates of the events’ perceived severity, followed by symmetric star symbols. Triangle and rhomb led to the lowest ratings. Circle and square showed the most variable results: they led to high and low ratings depending on the map topic. The findings demonstrate that map symbols influence how people imagine geospatial events. These findings call for a more vigorous focus on the connotative meanings of visual signs in cartographic research and practice.我们日常生活中接触到的部分地图正愈发精简小巧，甚至仅通过单一符号来描绘某一特定事件。由于地图及其符号绝非中立客观，视觉符号学（visual semiotics）研究强调探索符号对人类反应的隐含内涵效应的重要性。因此本研究旨在评估单主题简约网络地图对地图使用者判断的影响，考察了当采用形状各异的制图点符号（cartographic point symbols）呈现负面地理空间事件时，人们对该类事件严重程度的感知情况。总计82名参与者对72幅地图完成评分，这些地图涵盖12个负面主题，每个主题均由6种不同的地图符号分别呈现。研究结果显示，不对称星形符号所对应的事件感知严重程度评分最高，其次为对称星形符号；三角形与菱形符号的评分最低。圆形与方形符号的评分结果波动最大，其评分高低取决于地图对应的主题。本研究结果证实，地图符号会影响人们对地理空间事件的认知与想象，同时呼吁在制图学研究与实践中应更加重视视觉符号的内涵意义。