Comparing Understanding and Memorization in Physicalization and VR Visualization

We investigate whether presenting data in a VR visualization or as a physicalization impacts understanding and recollection. Two equivalent representations of the same data set, one in physical form and one in VR, were created. Participants answered understanding questions while they had access to the model, and were subsequently asked about the data after the model was removed. We recorded time needed to answer understanding questions and correctness rates for recollection questions. The results favour the conclusion that the virtual representation and the technical VR setup significantly inhibit participants’ ability to work with the data set. Reflecting on our study setup and participants’ comments, we discuss recommendations for future studies aiming at a systematic and comprehensive comparison of the differences in interacting with purely virtual and with physical data representations.