Mercator Projection
Type: Cylindrical projection.
Effect: Distorts the image, especially toward the poles.
How it works: Projects the globe’s surface onto a cylinder (or onto a flat sheet of paper).
Perspective and Cultural Bias
Human Influence: Maps are made by people; choices in design can reflect cultural perspectives.
Reference Maps: Tend to be the most accurate for general use.
Example of Cultural Bias:
Upside‑down colorful map from the lesson.
Most maps place north at the top and south at the bottom.
Historically influenced by the higher population in the Northern Hemisphere.
Many maps center Europe in the Northern Hemisphere.
3. Scale Types
Scale of Analysis
Related to study scope (population size, area, or extent of data).
Example:
Study of Tulsa, OK → smaller scale of analysis than New York City (because NYC has
a larger population, so the scope is larger).
Larger population/area = larger scale of analysis.
Type: Cylindrical projection.
Effect: Distorts the image, especially toward the poles.
How it works: Projects the globe’s surface onto a cylinder (or onto a flat sheet of paper).
Perspective and Cultural Bias
Human Influence: Maps are made by people; choices in design can reflect cultural perspectives.
Reference Maps: Tend to be the most accurate for general use.
Example of Cultural Bias:
Upside‑down colorful map from the lesson.
Most maps place north at the top and south at the bottom.
Historically influenced by the higher population in the Northern Hemisphere.
Many maps center Europe in the Northern Hemisphere.
3. Scale Types
Scale of Analysis
Related to study scope (population size, area, or extent of data).
Example:
Study of Tulsa, OK → smaller scale of analysis than New York City (because NYC has
a larger population, so the scope is larger).
Larger population/area = larger scale of analysis.
