An　eight-sided　prism　sample,　obtained　from　a　hot-rolled　AZ31　magnesium　alloy　sheet,　was　compressed　at　room　temperature　along　the　transverse　direction　to　investigate　the　influence　of　local　strain　on　twinning　behavior　using　electron　backscatter　diffraction　(EBSD)　measurements,　hardness　distribution,　and　metallographic　observations.　The　octagonal　surface　of　the　sample　was　divided　into　distinct　regions　based　on　hardness　distribution　and　metallographic　observations.　Combined　analysis　of　the　Schmid　factor　(SF)　and　the　strain　compatibility　factor　(m’)　was　employed　to　study　twin　variant　selection.　Basal　on　SF　ratio　distribution,　the　Schmid　factor　criterion,　can　predict　over　75%　of　observed　twin　variants　in　regions　A　and　D　(normal　stress　samples).　In　contrast,　64%　of　twin　variant　selection　behavior　in　region　C　(shear　stress　sample)　can　be　effectively　explained　using　a　pure　shear　model.　Twin　variants　with　high　strain　compatibility　factors　may　prefer　activation　to　reduce　stress　concentration.　The　strain　compatibility　factor　is　more　appropriate　than　the　Schmid　factor　for　analyzing　the　effect　of　local　strain　on　the　selection　behavior　of　twin　variants.　©　2024　by　the　authors.