Exploring high-dimensional data is challenging. Dimension reduction algorithms, such as weighted multidimensional scaling, support data exploration by projecting datasets to two dimensions for visualization. These projections can be explored through parametric interaction, tweaking underlying parameterizations, and observation-level interaction, directly interacting with the points within the projection. In this article, we present the results of a controlled usability study determining the differences, advantages, and drawbacks among parametric interaction, observation-level interaction, and their combination. The study assesses both interaction technique effects on domain-specific high-dimensional data analyses performed by non-experts of statistical algorithms. This study is performed using Andromeda, a tool that enables both parametric and observation-level interaction to provide in-depth data exploration. The results indicate that the two forms of interaction serve different, but complementary, purposes in gaining insight through steerable dimension reduction algorithms. CCS Concepts: • Human-centered computing → Empirical studies in visualization;
Exploratory data analysis is challenging given the complexity of data. Models find structure in the data lessening the complexity for users. These models have parameters that can be adjusted to explore the data from many different angles providing more ways to learn about the data. "Human in the loop" means users can interact with the parameters to explore alternative structures. This exploration allows for discovery. This paper examines usability issues of Human-Model Interaction (HMI) for data analytics. In particular, we bridge the gaps between a user's intention and the parameters of a WMDS model during HMI communication. CCS Concepts • Human-centered computing → Human computer interaction (HCI) → HCI design and evaluation methods → User studies.
As analysts attempt to make sense of a collection of documents, such as intelligence analysis reports, they need to "connect the dots" between pieces of information that may initially seem unrelated. We conducted a user study to analyze the cognitive process by which users connect pairs of documents and how they spatialize connections. Users created conceptual stories that connected the dots using a range of organizational strategies and spatial representations. Insights from our study can drive the design of data mining algorithms and visual analytic tools to support analysts' complex cognitive processes.
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