Sponsor
Portland State University. Department of Geography
First Advisor
Joseph Poracsky
Date of Publication
10-24-2007
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (M.S.) in Geography
Department
Geography
Language
English
Subjects
Cartography -- Oregon, Middle school students -- Oregon, Middle school education -- Oregon, Thematic maps -- Oregon
DOI
10.15760/etd.2422
Physical Description
1 online resource. Digitized computer-produced typeface, maps (some col.)
Abstract
Middle school students work with many types of maps in school, however most maps they use are qualitative thematic maps that only show differences in kind as compared to quantitative thematic maps that show differences in amounts. This thesis investigates sixth-grade students' abilities to analyze three types of thematic maps: dot maps, choropleth maps, and graduated circle maps. Two hundred and two Oregon sixth-graders were tested on their abilities to interpret map symbology, make inferences from the data, categorize values into regions, and ask geographic questions concerning data distributions. The results indicate that students can understand these three quantitative thematic maps for these purposes. These results also raise the question, "Why aren't there more quantitative thematic maps presented to students in middle school curriculum?"
Rights
In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
Persistent Identifier
http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/15797
Recommended Citation
Gaspers, Stephanie Lynn, ""Questions About Stuff You Don't Normally See on a Map:" A Study of Sixth-Graders' Abilities to Understand Quantitative Thematic Maps" (2007). Dissertations and Theses. Paper 2425.
https://doi.org/10.15760/etd.2422