Volcanic hazard map visualisation affects cognition and crisis decision-making. (March 2021)
- Record Type:
- Journal Article
- Title:
- Volcanic hazard map visualisation affects cognition and crisis decision-making. (March 2021)
- Main Title:
- Volcanic hazard map visualisation affects cognition and crisis decision-making
- Authors:
- Thompson Clive, Mary Anne
Lindsay, Jan Marie
Leonard, Graham Sloane
Lutteroth, Christof
Bostrom, Ann
Corballis, Paul - Abstract:
- Abstract: Hazard maps are used to communicate complex scientific data with many audiences during volcanic unrest crises, but it is unclear how common hazard visualisation styles affect cognition, behaviour, and decision-making. Here we use eye-gaze tracking and questionnaires to explore how 81 people near a volcano in New Zealand read and make decisions with hazard maps for a hypothetical eruption. We find that greater mental effort is required to read early-stage hazard maps associated with higher uncertainty, and that showing integrated zones of low to high hazard can result in 1) higher perceived threat, 2) limited visual attention to the maps, and 3) more risk-averse decisions under pressure compared to visualising discrete hazard footprints. People with high prior risk perceptions demonstrate less attention to map content overall. The results show how map visualisation can influence cognition, decision-making, and behaviour, and have implications for crisis communication. For example, in the early stages of a volcanic event, integrated hazard zones may help capture audience attention by facilitating a high-level assessment of risk. As the event evolves, discrete footprints of individual hazard processes may help better inform high-stakes decisions for which detailed hazard knowledge is needed. Additionally, we find that providing simple tasks for the audience to carry out using the maps, and showing safe areas alongside hazardous areas, may encourage map reading. WeAbstract: Hazard maps are used to communicate complex scientific data with many audiences during volcanic unrest crises, but it is unclear how common hazard visualisation styles affect cognition, behaviour, and decision-making. Here we use eye-gaze tracking and questionnaires to explore how 81 people near a volcano in New Zealand read and make decisions with hazard maps for a hypothetical eruption. We find that greater mental effort is required to read early-stage hazard maps associated with higher uncertainty, and that showing integrated zones of low to high hazard can result in 1) higher perceived threat, 2) limited visual attention to the maps, and 3) more risk-averse decisions under pressure compared to visualising discrete hazard footprints. People with high prior risk perceptions demonstrate less attention to map content overall. The results show how map visualisation can influence cognition, decision-making, and behaviour, and have implications for crisis communication. For example, in the early stages of a volcanic event, integrated hazard zones may help capture audience attention by facilitating a high-level assessment of risk. As the event evolves, discrete footprints of individual hazard processes may help better inform high-stakes decisions for which detailed hazard knowledge is needed. Additionally, we find that providing simple tasks for the audience to carry out using the maps, and showing safe areas alongside hazardous areas, may encourage map reading. We discuss the implications of these findings, and present four evidence-based points for scientists to consider across a range of fields where hazard maps are used to communicate with non-specialist audiences. Highlights: Volcanic hazard map style affects visual attention, cognition, and decision-making. Simple tasks help guide attention to hazard maps at early, uncertain event stages. High risk perception is associated with limited visual attention to hazard maps. Integrated hazard visualisations engage early attention and high-level processing. Discrete hazard footprints encourage deliberative processing and correct inferences. … (more)
- Is Part Of:
- International journal of disaster risk reduction. Volume 55(2021)
- Journal:
- International journal of disaster risk reduction
- Issue:
- Volume 55(2021)
- Issue Display:
- Volume 55, Issue 2021 (2021)
- Year:
- 2021
- Volume:
- 55
- Issue:
- 2021
- Issue Sort Value:
- 2021-0055-2021-0000
- Page Start:
- Page End:
- Publication Date:
- 2021-03
- Subjects:
- Hazard map -- Risk communication -- Eye-gaze tracking -- Visualisation -- Volcanic hazard -- Cognition
Emergency management -- Periodicals
Risk management -- Periodicals
Disaster relief -- Periodicals
Hazard mitigation -- Periodicals
363.34 - Journal URLs:
- http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/22124209/ ↗
http://www.elsevier.com/journals ↗ - DOI:
- 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2021.102102 ↗
- Languages:
- English
- ISSNs:
- 2212-4209
- Deposit Type:
- Legaldeposit
- View Content:
- Available online (eLD content is only available in our Reading Rooms) ↗
- Physical Locations:
- British Library DSC - BLDSS-3PM
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