The change of the function of visual information in geographical studies

地理学研究通常使用可视信息，如地图和数字。地理和视觉信息之间的关系因研究框架的不同而不同，并且随着时间的推移而变化。本研究调查了1950年以来日本、美国和英国主要地理期刊论文所使用的视觉信息量。这些期刊分别是《日本地理评论》、《美国地理学家协会年鉴》和《英国地理学家学会会刊》。1)在20世纪末的50年里，S使用的视觉信息总量平均为每百页50件，相当于25页的面积(地图；7页、表格；5页、照片、油画、插图；6页、其他图形；7页)。也就是说，四分之一的页面被视觉信息占据。2)历史分析表明，50年代S的视觉信息量很小，60年代的S视觉信息量迅速增加，20世纪末S的视觉信息量达到最大。从70年代的S到90年代的S，视觉信息逐渐减少。结果表明，在地理学量化革命之后，实证研究蓬勃发展，视觉信息有所增加，视觉信息在近期研究中的作用变得不那么显著。

Geographical studies commonly employ visual information such as maps and figures. The relationship between geography and visual information differs by research framework and it changes over time. This study examined the quantity of visual information employed by the papers in major geographical journals in Japan, U.S. and U.K. since 1950 The journals examined were Geographical Review of Japan, Annals of the Association of American Geographers, and Transactions, Institute of British Geographers.The result for AAAG was as follows. 1) Through 50 years in the late 20's century, the total number of visual information employed was 50 pieces per 100 pages in average, which was equivalent to the area of 25 pages (maps; 7pages, tables; 5pages, photograph, paintings, and pictorial diagram; 6pages, other figures; 7pages). That is, a quarter of the total pages were occupied with the visual information. 2) Historical analysis showed that the number of visual information was small in 1950's, and it rapidly increased in the 60's, and then reached the maximum in the late 20's century. It decreased subsequently through 70's to 90's. The results indicated that the visual information increased after the quantitative revolution of geography when the empirical studies flourished, and the role of the visual information became less significant in the recent studies.