Understanding the Positive Effects of Graphical Risk Information on Comprehension: Measuring Attention Directed to Written, Tabular, and Graphical Risk Information
Understanding the Positive Effects of Graphical Risk Information on Comprehension: Measuring Attention Directed to Written, Tabular, and Graphical Risk Information
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DOI：
10.1111/j.1539-6924.2010.01435.x
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发表时间：
2010-09
期刊：
影响因子：
3.8
通讯作者：
Chris M. R. Smerecnik;I. Mesters;L. Kessels;R. Ruiter;N. D. de Vries;H. de Vries
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Chris M. R. Smerecnik;I. Mesters;L. Kessels;R. Ruiter;N. D. de Vries;H. de Vries
风险沟通是健康教育和宣传不可或缺的一个方面。然而，对于普通接受者来说，常用的文本风险信息相对较难理解。因此，研究人员和健康促进者开始关注所谓的决策辅助工具，如表格和图表。尽管表格和图形风险信息比文本风险信息更有效地传达风险，但负责这一增强的认知机制尚不清楚。本研究旨在考察两种可能的机制(即认知工作负荷和注意力)。在受试者之间的实验设计中，测量了认知工作量(平均瞳孔大小和最大瞳孔扩张)和对危险信息的注意力(观看时间、眼睛注视的次数和眼睛注视的持续时间)。结果表明，图形风险信息有助于理解这些信息，因为它比文本风险信息吸引和保持注意力的时间更长。因此，图表对于风险沟通实践是一种有价值的资产，原因有两个：首先，它们往往会吸引人们的注意，其次，当人们注意到图表时，它们会以相对较少的认知努力提取信息，最终导致更好的理解。
Risk communications are an integral aspect of health education and promotion. However, the commonly used textual risk information is relatively difficult to understand for the average recipient. Consequently, researchers and health promoters have started to focus on so‐called decision aids, such as tables and graphs. Although tabular and graphical risk information more effectively communicate risks than textual risk information, the cognitive mechanisms responsible for this enhancement are unclear. This study aimed to examine two possible mechanisms (i.e., cognitive workload and attention). Cognitive workload (mean pupil size and peak pupil dilation) and attention directed to the risk information (viewing time, number of eye fixations, and eye fixation durations) were both measured in a between‐subjects experimental design. The results suggest that graphical risk information facilitates comprehension of that information because it attracts and holds attention for a longer period of time than textual risk information. Graphs are thus a valuable asset to risk communication practice for two reasons: first, they tend to attract attention and, second, when attended to, they elicit information extraction with relatively little cognitive effort, and finally result in better comprehension.