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Engaging in the construction and interpretation of graphs is a complex process involving concerted activation of context-specific cognitive resources. As students engage in this process, they apply fine-grained, intuitive ideas to graphical patterns: graphical forms. Using data involving pairs of students constructing and interpreting graphs, we expand on the current knowledge base on graphical forms to contribute an empirically based catalog. We also situate our cognitively oriented work in relation to research that has emphasized (a) misconceptions and (b) social practices. In addition, we draw connections to the research on covariational reasoning. We end with implications regarding how graphical forms contribute to our understanding of students' graphical reasoning and how instructors can support students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study sought to assess the consequences of technological changes in vehicle routing interfaces for planners' constraint processing during route selection. An experiment featuring vehicle routing problems was designed to test interfaces reflecting technological changes, including automation leading to simplified interfaces and the display of multiple routes computed by algorithms. Twelve participants who had worked for a small transport company for 9 months were exposed to all these interfaces. Mental workload, performance, and decision-making times were measured. Results revealed that automation decreases mental workload and decision times, attributable to the abridged (vs. unabridged) display of constraints on the interface. Results also showed that the perceptual (vs. analytical) display of routes greatly decreases decision times and enhances performances. Results are finally discussed in terms of information reliance, automation accuracy, and graphical forms tailored to meet genuine support needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roadmapping is widely used to support innovation, strategic planning and policy development, at company, network, sector and national levels. More than 900 examples of public-domain roadmap documents have been collected in order to explore their purpose and structure. Of particular interest are the graphical forms that roadmaps can take, because of their potential for supporting communication and dissemination. More than 400 examples have been extracted from the collection of roadmap documents, in order to examine their format. A classification is proposed, focusing on the underlying information structures apparent in these roadmaps, illustrated with 20 representative specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]