arXiv subjects

Marti Hearst

Publications and source records attributed to Marti Hearst.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Visual Embellishments are Potential Distractions in Double-Column Reading

Eye-catching graphics, such as circular figure labels and word-scale visualizations, are increasingly being placed directly within long-form text paragraphs. Some research has claimed that inline visualizations can help readers understand data-rich passages more clearly. However, research in the science of reading calls into question the introduction of images within the flow of text. In this work, we conduct an exploratory study of eye movement in both the presence and absence of visual embellishments. Using a high-resolution eye-tracker (EyeLink Portable Duo), we observed small mean increases in vertical and cross-column saccade rates among six participants, with substantial variation among readers and no detected difference in comprehension accuracy. Mean subjective ratings for the data-light circular-glyph passage indicated it is more distracting than its unembellished comparison passage. These exploratory observations differ from prior findings and motivate a larger, fully crossed study of inline graphics.

cs.HC↗

arXiv2022

Why More Text is (Often) Better: Themes from Reader Preferences for Integration of Charts and Text

Given a choice between charts with minimal text and those with copious textual annotations, participants in a study (Stokes et al.) tended to prefer the charts with more text. This paper examines the qualitative responses of the participants' preferences for various stimuli integrating charts and text, including a text-only variant. A thematic analysis of these responses resulted in three main findings. First, readers commented most frequently on the presence or lack of context; they preferred to be informed, even when it sacrificed simplicity. Second, readers discussed the story-like component of the text-only variant and made little mention of narrative in relation to the chart variants. Finally, readers showed suspicion around possible misleading elements of the chart or text. These themes support findings from previous work on annotations, captions, and alternative text. We raise further questions regarding the combination of text and visual communication.

cs.HC↗

arXiv2022

Striking a Balance: Reader Takeaways and Preferences when Integrating Text and Charts

While visualizations are an effective way to represent insights about information, they rarely stand alone. When designing a visualization, text is often added to provide additional context and guidance for the reader. However, there is little experimental evidence to guide designers as to what is the right amount of text to show within a chart, what its qualitative properties should be, and where it should be placed. Prior work also shows variation in personal preferences for charts versus textual representations. In this paper, we explore several research questions about the relative value of textual components of visualizations. 302 participants ranked univariate line charts containing varying amounts of text, ranging from no text (except for the axes) to a written paragraph with no visuals. Participants also described what information they could take away from line charts containing text with varying semantic content. We find that heavily annotated charts were not penalized. In fact, participants preferred the charts with the largest number of textual annotations over charts with fewer annotations or text alone. We also find effects of semantic content. For instance, the text that describes statistical or relational components of a chart leads to more takeaways referring to statistics or relational comparisons than text describing elemental or encoded components. Finally, we find different effects for the semantic levels based on the placement of the text on the chart; some kinds of information are best placed in the title, while others should be placed closer to the data. We compile these results into four chart design guidelines and discuss future implications for the combination of text and charts.

cs.HC↗