Methodology

The survey begins with four colour-vision screening plates and one unrecorded practice question. It then presents 29 measured figure questions covering the design comparisons shown below.

Highlight all answer-area bounding boxes

Single-token ablations

Each Minimise Cognitive Load token tested in isolation: one minimal pair per token (baseline vs. treatment), with the other three tokens held at their baseline default in both images, so the pair differs by exactly one guideline.

Visual Hierarchy	baseline Multi-series trend: a target series crossing three comparison series over 10 weeks. Visual Hierarchy = baseline (Flat salience). tokens visual_hierarchy = baseline viewing normal prompt In which week does the Treatment series first reach or exceed the Baseline series? options Week 6, Week 1, Week 3, Week 4, Skip answer Week 3 pool ablation / trend / normal / visual_hierarchy=baseline draw `ablation:trend:normal:visual_hierarchy=baseline` · variant 2	treatment Multi-series trend: a target series crossing three comparison series over 10 weeks. Visual Hierarchy = treatment (Target emphasised, context muted). tokens visual_hierarchy = treatment viewing normal prompt In which week does the Treatment series first reach or exceed the Baseline series? options Week 8, Week 6, Week 0, Week 7, Skip answer Week 6 pool ablation / trend / normal / visual_hierarchy=treatment draw `ablation:trend:normal:visual_hierarchy=treatment` · variant 2
Decluttering	baseline Multi-series trend: a target series crossing three comparison series over 10 weeks. Decluttering = baseline (Gridlines and background fill present). tokens decluttering = baseline viewing normal prompt In which week does the Treatment series first reach or exceed the Baseline series? options Week 3, Week 8, Week 7, Week 0, Skip answer Week 7 pool ablation / trend / normal / decluttering=baseline draw `ablation:trend:normal:decluttering=baseline` · variant 2	treatment Multi-series trend: a target series crossing three comparison series over 10 weeks. Decluttering = treatment (Minimal ink within the shared plot outline). tokens decluttering = treatment viewing normal prompt In which week does the Treatment series first reach or exceed the Baseline series? options Week 7, Week 1, Week 3, Week 6, Skip answer Week 7 pool ablation / trend / normal / decluttering=treatment draw `ablation:trend:normal:decluttering=treatment` · variant 2
Labelling Mode	baseline Multi-series trend: a target series crossing three comparison series over 10 weeks. Labelling Mode = baseline (Legend). tokens labelling_mode = baseline viewing normal prompt In which week does the Treatment series first reach or exceed the Baseline series? options Week 4, Week 9, Week 10, Week 5, Skip answer Week 5 pool ablation / trend / normal / labelling_mode=baseline draw `ablation:trend:normal:labelling_mode=baseline` · variant 2	treatment Multi-series trend: a target series crossing three comparison series over 10 weeks. Labelling Mode = treatment (Direct labelling). tokens labelling_mode = treatment viewing normal prompt In which week does the Treatment series first reach or exceed the Baseline series? options Week 10, Week 0, Week 4, Week 7, Skip answer Week 7 pool ablation / trend / normal / labelling_mode=treatment draw `ablation:trend:normal:labelling_mode=treatment` · variant 2
Typographic Hierarchy	baseline Multi-series trend: a target series crossing three comparison series over 10 weeks. Typographic Hierarchy = baseline (Uniform type). tokens typographic_hierarchy = baseline viewing normal prompt In which week does the Treatment series first reach or exceed the Baseline series? options Week 8, Week 6, Week 2, Week 4, Skip answer Week 6 pool ablation / trend / normal / typographic_hierarchy=baseline draw `ablation:trend:normal:typographic_hierarchy=baseline` · variant 2	treatment Multi-series trend: a target series crossing three comparison series over 10 weeks. Typographic Hierarchy = treatment (Deliberate type hierarchy plus annotation). tokens typographic_hierarchy = treatment viewing normal prompt In which week does the Treatment series first reach or exceed the Baseline series? options Week 9, Week 5, Week 4, Week 3, Skip answer Week 4 pool ablation / trend / normal / typographic_hierarchy=treatment draw `ablation:trend:normal:typographic_hierarchy=treatment` · variant 2