How Does Empirical Research Facilitate Creation Tool Design? A Data Video Perspective

TL;DR

This paper investigates how empirical research influences data video creation tools, analyzing literature and expert insights to identify patterns, challenges, and opportunities for better integration of empirical findings into tool design.

Contribution

It provides a systematic analysis of empirical research's role in data video tool development, revealing patterns, challenges, and proposing future integration strategies.

Findings

Empirical findings inform problem framing and technical references in tool design.

Researchers adapt and synthesize empirical insights through iteration.

Key factors for applicability include relevance, granularity, clarity, credibility, and feasibility.

Abstract

Empirical research in creative design deepens our theoretical understanding of design principles and perceptual effects, offering valuable guidance for innovating creation tools. However, how these empirical insights currently influence the development of creation tools, and how their integration can be enhanced in the future, remains insufficiently understood. In this paper, we aim to unveil the gap through a case study on data videos, a prominent and wide-spread medium for effective data storytelling. To achieve the goal, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of 46 empirical research papers and 48 creation tool papers on data video, complemented by interviews with 11 experts. Building upon a systematic collection and structured characterization of empirical research by their methodologies (e.g., corpus analysis, comparative evaluations) and component focus (e.g., visuals, motions, narratives, audio), we conducted a context-aware citation analysis and revealed a taxonomy of recurring patterns in how empirical findings inform tool design across citation functions (e.g., problem framing, technical reference). Expert interviews further uncovered researchers' practice patterns in applying empirical findings (e.g., adaptation, synthesis, iteration, etc.) and identified key factors influencing applicability, such as contextual relevance, granularity matching, clarity, credibility, and feasibility. Finally, we derive suggestions and discuss future opportunities to foster closer mutual engagement between empirical and tool research, aiming to reinforce the theoretical grounding of creation tools and enhance the practical impact of empirical research.