Evaluating Observations of GIS Visualizations: An Exploratory Spatial Analysis of College Football Recruiting in the Southeastern Conference

Terry Bearb
atgrogan@arizona.edu
Presentation Time: Fri, 05/07/2021 - 13:00
Keywords: Spatial Patterns, College Football Recruiting, Visualization, Point Distribution

Abstract

The Southeastern Conference (SEC) in the NCAA is widely known as being a competitive college football
conference, comprising the most elite athletes. What is not apparent is where the recruits originate, which
universities in the SEC recruit with efficiency, and which universities are required to seek athletes from
out-of-state. To investigate this phenomenon, recruit point data was obtained and ultimately used to
visualize densities, dispersions, and point distributions via choropleth, graduated symbol, heat maps, and
map overlays. For each university in the SEC, spatial analysis tools were used to map the number of
recruits that existed within the bounds of each state, map the geographic center for each university’s set
of recruit point data, identify recruits within a proximity of each campus location, and map the directional
tends of each university's recruits by way of standard deviational ellipses. The final cartographic products
are used in a visualization survey to determine which maps are the most informative and are best utilized
to help identify spatial patterns of recruiting. Survey questions not only focused on specific dispersion
tendencies for each cartographic medium, but also fixated on overall map interpretation, preference, and
aesthetics. Results of the survey indicate that Heat Maps were overwhelmingly favored and allowed map
readers to answer survey questions with the highest success.