Misleading Whom?: Assumptions About Map Users and Engagement Contexts in Covid-19 Map Misleadingness Claims

Johanna Meyer; Danae Stanton Fraser; Julie Barnett

doi:10.1080/00087041.2024.2366591

Misleading Whom? Assumptions About Map Users and Engagement Contexts in Covid-19 Map Misleadingness Claims

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Citation (SciVal)

Abstract

The potential of maps to ‘mislead’ is flagged as an ethical issue in the academic literature and beyond. This potential resurfaced in discussions around Covid-19 mapping practices. Using Alvesson and Sandberg’s (2020) problematising review framework, we explore what assumptions are made about the map user and map engagement context when a disease map, or mapping or distribution practice is labelled as misleading, and how this conceptualization can be both a help and a hindrance for studying (engagement with) public health maps. We argue that further empirical research and theoretical development are needed to better understand map-based misleadingness in the context of public health crises, and that the label of misleadingness should be used with caution.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	270-287
Number of pages	18
Journal	The Cartographic Journal
Volume	61
Issue number	4
Early online date	10 Oct 2024
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/00087041.2024.2366591
Publication status	Published - 31 Dec 2024

Funding

This research was conducted as part of a University of Bath Leveraged University Research Studentship associated with the RENEW project (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council Global Challenges Research Fund, project number EP/P028403/1).

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

COVID-19
map engagement
map user
misleading
public health mapping
thematic mapping

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Earth-Surface Processes

Access to Document

10.1080/00087041.2024.2366591Licence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Misleading Whom?: Assumptions About Map Users and Engagement Contexts in Covid-19 Map Misleadingness Claims",

abstract = "The potential of maps to {\textquoteleft}mislead{\textquoteright} is flagged as an ethical issue in the academic literature and beyond. This potential resurfaced in discussions around Covid-19 mapping practices. Using Alvesson and Sandberg{\textquoteright}s (2020) problematising review framework, we explore what assumptions are made about the map user and map engagement context when a disease map, or mapping or distribution practice is labelled as misleading, and how this conceptualization can be both a help and a hindrance for studying (engagement with) public health maps. We argue that further empirical research and theoretical development are needed to better understand map-based misleadingness in the context of public health crises, and that the label of misleadingness should be used with caution.",

keywords = "COVID-19, map engagement, map user, misleading, public health mapping, thematic mapping",

author = "Johanna Meyer and \{Stanton Fraser\}, Danae and Julie Barnett",

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AB - The potential of maps to ‘mislead’ is flagged as an ethical issue in the academic literature and beyond. This potential resurfaced in discussions around Covid-19 mapping practices. Using Alvesson and Sandberg’s (2020) problematising review framework, we explore what assumptions are made about the map user and map engagement context when a disease map, or mapping or distribution practice is labelled as misleading, and how this conceptualization can be both a help and a hindrance for studying (engagement with) public health maps. We argue that further empirical research and theoretical development are needed to better understand map-based misleadingness in the context of public health crises, and that the label of misleadingness should be used with caution.

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KW - map engagement

KW - map user

KW - misleading

KW - public health mapping

KW - thematic mapping

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M3 - Article

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EP - 287

JO - The Cartographic Journal

JF - The Cartographic Journal

IS - 4

ER -

Misleading Whom? Assumptions About Map Users and Engagement Contexts in Covid-19 Map Misleadingness Claims

Abstract

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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Cite this

Misleading Whom? Assumptions About Map Users and Engagement Contexts in Covid-19 Map Misleadingness Claims

Abstract

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Projects

ReNEW

Cite this