Graduate Thesis Or Dissertation
 

A comparison of auditory and visual graphs for use in physics and mathematics

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https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/graduate_thesis_or_dissertations/8910jx85n

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  • The ability to interpret graphical information is a prime concern in physics as graphs are widely used to give quick summaries of data sets, for pattern recognition, and for analysis of information. While visual graphs have been developed so that their content can be readily and concisely discerned, there is great difficulty when someone is unable, because of their environment or due to physical handicaps, to view graphs. An alternative to the visual graph is the auditory graph. An auditory graph uses sound rather than pictures to transmit information. This study shows that useful auditory graphs of single valued x-y data were constructed by mapping the y axis to pitch, the x axis to time, and by including drum beats to mark first and second derivative information. Further audio enhancement was used to indicate negative data values. The study used a World Wide Web based test consisting of a series of math and physics questions. Each question was based on a graph and had multiple-choice answers. The test instrument was refined through a series of pilot tests. The main study compared the results of over 200 introductory physics students at Oregon State University, as well as other selected subjects. A computer program randomly assigned subjects to one of three groups. Each group was presented with the same test but had a different graph presentation method. The presentation methods were: only visual graphs, only auditory graphs, or both auditory and visual graphs. This study shows that students with very little training can use auditory graphs to answer analytical and identification type questions. Student performance for the group using only auditory graphs is 70% of the level attained by subjects using visually presented graphs. In addition, five blind subjects from remote locations participated in this test. Their performance level exceeded that of the first-year physics students. This work also displays the results from a pilot study of various auditory preference choices. Elements of this test may be useful for future auditory graph research and development.
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