Evaluating information visualizations

Abstract

Information visualization research is becoming more established, and as a result, it is becoming increasingly important that research in this field is validated. With the general increase in information visualization research there has also been an increase, albeit disproportionately small, in the amount of empirical work directly focused on information visualization. The purpose of this chapter is to increase awareness of empirical research in general, of its relationship to information visualization in particular; to emphasize its importance; and to encourage thoughtful application of a greater variety of evaluative research methodologies in information visualization. © 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.