Experimental Design in Age-Related Perception of Spatial Frequency: Evidence From Vision Science

With the acceleration of global ageing and the widespread adoption of electronic devices, modern visualization design must address the varying perceptual abilities across different age groups. Spatial frequency (SF) is commonly used as a stimulus dimension to assess perceptual ability in vision science, but its potential role as a guiding variable in visualization design, particularly for addressing age-related differences across the lifespan, remains largely unexplored. Many vision science studies have examined age-related spatial frequency perception, but with varying results. This review systematically analyses differences in experimental design and the reasons behind selecting experimental methods, which may be key to these differences. This study developed search terms and systematically searched the ACM, IEEE, PubMed, APA PsycINFO, SAGE, ScienceDirect, and Springer Nature databases. After rigorous screening, 33 studies were included and evaluated, with their similarities and differences compared across five dimensions. Cluster analysis further categorizes the literature into five groups, confirming that discrepancies in experimental outcomes largely stem from variations in psychological methods and participant characteristics. By considering the underlying reasons for these choices, we propose guidelines for designing perceptual experiments in which spatial frequency and age are manipulated factors. These recommendations provide theoretical support and practical insights for visualization design research that considers age-related perception of spatial frequency.