Evaluating the quality and value dimensions of information graphics : a comparative analysis of existing models

Abstract

PURPOSE: The objective of the article is a comparative analysis of existing models for evaluating information graphics in terms of their capabilities and effectiveness in assessing dimensions of quality and value, which have significant importance and influence on the information overload perceived by recipients.

DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The article uses a comparative analysis to analyze and asses selected models for evaluating information graphics from the point of view of information overload, based on the electronic survey (quantitative analysis), the usability testing and heuristic analysis (qualitative analysis) as well as the multi-criteria TOPSIS method.

FINDINGS: The results of a comparative analysis of selected models for evaluating information graphics obtained in this study show, on the one hand, that each of the models is characterized by a similar level of effectiveness, which was confirmed in the received rankings. On the other hand, the obtained results for selected and examined information graphics, as visual communication tools, are characterized by a relatively high level of the message quality and value among the recipients. Consequently, this may reduce or even minimize the information overload effect, which is widely present in electronic media, as well as efficient and effective assimilation of information and knowledge contained in the content of the infographics.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The research on the evaluation of the quality level and the value of the influence of infographics provides very important support in the processes of creating and developing information graphics for professional applications within various types of information systems, which may significantly decrease the information overload effect of the conveyed substantive content among recipients through different types of IT systems and visual tools.

ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The use in this study a combination of various types of quantitative and qualitative methods in research and analysis of selected infographics, infographics evaluation criteria and infographics evaluation models made the obtained results can be considered original, reliable and useful in various fields and applications.