Using Geographical Information Systems for Decision Making: Extending Cognitive Fit Theory to Map-Based Presentations
Alan R. Dennis, Traci A. Carte
Information Systems Research · 1998 · Volume 9 · Issue 2
Abstract
As the use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) by business becomes more common, we need to better understand when these systems are and are not useful. This research uses a laboratory experiment to extend cognitive fit theory (Vessey 1991) to geographic tasks performed using either map-based presentations or tabular presentations. The experiment found that decision makers using a map-based presentation made faster and more accurate decisions when working on a geographic task in which there were adjacency relationships among the geographic areas. Decision makers using a map-based presentation made faster but less accurate decisions when working on a geographic task in which there were no relationships among the geographic areas.
Keywords
Geographical Information Systems, Cognitive Fit, Maps, Graphics
Enable JavaScript for citation tools and additional paper interactions.