FOUNDATIONS OF MAP TRUST

Abstract

This thesis first establishes a rationale for studying the problem of trust in maps, then explains the current understanding of trust in maps. Section 2 presents scenarios which have informed and inspired this research. Next, the concept of trust is situated within maps as well as characterizing factors likely to affect the

perceived trustworthiness of a map (Section 3). The concept of risk and its likely intersection with trust is explained as well as conversation around the issue of manipulating trust and misinformation. Next in Section 4, the models of representation are analyzed as well as the realities of map creation to contextualize their use and limitations. In Section 5, the progress in measuring trust in experimental settings is outlined. The methods for the experiment are detailed in Section 6. The scenario used in the study, the population surveyed, the maps created and their process, and the survey design are all explained. Section 7 communicates the results of the survey broken down, explaining who the participants were, their trust measurements and a comparison to a novel measurement of trust are reported. The effect of risk on trust and the map comprehension by the participants follow. Residual findings close out the section. Considerations regarding differences in representation choices are evaluated in addition to potential confounding factors in Section 8. Findings related to risk and trust are explored next and followed by discussion of the study population. Future research opportunities are outlined, and finally, conclusions are rendered in Section 9.