Using common region in node-link displays: The role of field dependence/independence

The role common region plays in acquiring scientific information from node-link displays was investigated. Common region (Palmer, 1992), a relatively new gestalt principle of organization, refers to the phenomena in which objects that share the same perceptually defined area are seen as grouped together. Eighty-eight participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: knowledge maps demonstrating common region or knowledge maps not demonstrating common region. The role of individual differences in field dependence/independence was also assessed. The results indicated that held dependence/independence differentially affects performance for node-link displays that either demonstrate or do not demonstrate common region. The field-dependent participants outperformed the field-independent participants for maps demonstrating common region, whereas the opposite was true for maps not using this principle. The results are interpreted in terms of cognitive effort, and implications for designing node-link displays are discussed.