In-Class Discussion
Choropleth Map Design

Today you will participate in a small group discussion with one or two other classmates about choropleth map design.  To help with the discussion, we would like you to use the following steps as a guideline.

1. Clarify with each other the following three questions.

a. What information do we gain by classifying attribute data, although the attribute data might be measured at a ratio level?  How does data classification simultaneously create and destroy the opportunity to gain information?  (hint: think of the differences between the tabular data and the maps you made)

b. What are the trade offs of the three data classification techniques. Which technique do you like for a map of the human development index (or one of its components)?  Why?  

c. Visual constrast, visual balance, and figure-ground are all important aspects of choropleth map design.  How can they be used to express a visual hierarchy for a choropleth map of the human development index (or one of its components)? How is the visual hierarchy on the HDI map related to your intellectual hierarchy on the map?