Choropleth maps are among the most common visualization techniques used to present geographical data. These maps require an equal-area projection but there are no clear criteria to select one. We collaborated with  social scientists researching on the Global South, interested in using choropleth maps, to investigate their design choices according to their research tasks. We conducted a survey with 20 researchers where we asked them to design world choropleth maps  . The results suggest that the design choices of projection, map center, scale, and color scheme, were influenced by the personal research goals and the tasks. The map projection was considered the most important choice and the Equal Earth projection was the most common projection used. Our study takes the first step on investigating projection choices for world choropleth maps in applied visualization research.
Choropleth maps are among the most common visualization techniques used to present geographical data. These maps require an equal-area projection but there are no clear criteria for selecting one. We collaborated with 20 social scientists researching on the Global South, interested in using choropleth maps, to investigate their design choices according to their research tasks. We asked them to design world choropleth maps through a survey, and analyzed their answers both qualitatively and quantitatively . The results suggest that the design choices of map projection, center, scale, and color scheme, were influenced by their personal research goals and the tasks. The projection was considered the most important choice and the Equal Earth projection was the most common projection used. Our study takes the first substantial step in investigating projection choices for world choropleth maps in applied visualization research.
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conducted a survey with 20 researchers where we
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through a survey, and analyzed their answers both qualitatively and quantitatively
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projection, map
map projection,
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the
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map
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step on
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