由於圖畫符號清晰易懂，無須藉助圖例即可使用，因此常出現於普及性高之觀光地圖上。本文選擇了十個觀光地圖上常用之圖畫符號來測試本地學生的認知程度，其中只有機場、停車場和寺廟獲極高認知，印證出出現頻率高及特定性強烈之符號較易引導出正確的聯想。而東西文化、傳統上的差異，使得即使是ISO認證之符號，也會出現不同的認知效果。最後根據分析結果所作的符號分類，則可提供日後本土地圖符號設計參考使用。
Pictorial Symbols were commonly used in tourist maps because they could readily understand without the aid of legend. For this study, ten pictorial symbols were selected from two hundred tourist maps to analyze the cognition of Taiwanese students. The results show that only parking, airport and temple symbols received a high rate of cognition. Moreover, even ISO approved symbols did not generate a high score of cognition. This study therefore demonstrates that the level of cognition is influenced by culture, language and religion. Based on the results of this study, the ten symbols were divided into three different groups according to their level of cognition and, this classification in turn can be used as a reference for the design of local Taiwan maps.
