Using problem-solving theories to investigate user behaviors in interactive visual analytics of complex information

Recently, to address the challenges imposed by big data, research on interactive visualization and visual analytics, which is aimed at combining human intelligence and machine computational powers in data analysis, has become increasingly important. However, the design of complex-information-oriented interactive visualization and visual analytics systems still lacks effective cognitive foundations as a guidance. Existing frameworks or design guidelines, such as sense-making, focus largely on the external characteristics of analytical activities and offer little insight into fundamental cognition that underpins analytical behaviors. In this paper, we proposed a theoretical framework based on problem-solving theories to help explain the essential cognitive activities in interactive visual analytics, advocated an approach to understanding the visual analytics process as a process to solve ill-defined problems, and explored the impacts of problem representations and problem-solving strategies on visual analytics behaviors. We see our contribution as two-folded. Theoretically, we borrowed problem-solving theories from cognitive science to study complex interactive activities in visual analytics, and this approach may offer insight into the design of interactive systems involving complex information-analytical behaviors. Practically, we discussed the design and evaluation of visual analytics tools from the perspective of supporting problem-solving.