Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!ub!acsu.buffalo.edu From: palan-t@acsu.buffalo.edu (thiagarajan palanivel) Newsgroups: comp.human-factors Subject: Individual Differences Message-ID: <80905@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU> Date: 23 Jun 91 20:08:17 GMT Sender: news@acsu.Buffalo.EDU Organization: SUNY Buffalo Lines: 308 Nntp-Posting-Host: minnie.eng.buffalo.edu I am currently working on my dissertation (tentatively) entitled : "Individual Differences in Cognition : Implications for Interface Design." I have followed some of the discussion in this group with regard to the big gap between research done in academia, and the design principles being practiced in industry. I am about six months away from finishing up and felt that I should take this oppurtunity to try and narrow this gap as much as possible, at least for my own work ! A summary of the main ideas follows. I would be grateful for any comments / criticism / suggestions / references. Especially with regard to the validity / need for such research, and the development of interface prototypes. To give some idea of the inter-disciplinary nature of this project and to give credit to the other people involved in this work: I have an undergraduate degree in engineering and a graduate degree in Operations Research. My co-advisors (and their backgrounds) are Valerie Shalin (Cognitive Psych.), and Martin Helander (Ergonomics). Erwin Segal (Cognitive Psych., Linguistics) is the third member of my committee. Raj Palanivel Dept. of Industrial Engg. SUNY @ Buffalo (716) 636-2357 --- While there has been considerable research and development in the areas of : 1) Designing interfaces to optimize performance on specific tasks/applications and 2) Designing interfaces to optimize the performance of Expert/Novice users, there has not been a whole lot of research looking at whether individual differences in cognitive processing (other than those based on the user's knowledge and/or experience) play a significant role in predicting performance. And if they do, how the effects of such differences interact with the effects ofinterface characteristics. Almost all of the previous work in this area has considered specific task domains (e.g. text-editing). Egan (1988, Chapter on Individual Differences in the "Handbook of Human-Computer Interaction", M. Helander (Ed.)) has done a comprehensive review of the area, and has tabulated the results from several studies. He points out the need to consider individual differences (quantitatively shows the highly significant effects of such differences on performance), andexplains some of the design/training methods followed in the past to accomodate such differences. My own work is focussed on whether there exist any pairings between users' cognitive profiles (the combimation of cognitive processing abilities and capacities of a user) and the INTERACTION STYLE/PRINCIPLE of an interface (e.g. Command Language based, or Direct Manipulation based), that optimize performanceat the "operating system level" (domain-inspecific tasks like manipulating and managing files, and navigating through file hierarchies). For example, can one predict that a user with high verbal and reasoning skills but relatively low spatial skills, will perform (the same task) better on a Command Language based interface, than on a Direct Manipulation based interface. From a different pointof view, can one say for example, that verbal ability is the single best predictor of performance on a command language interface ? I have done most of the theoretical development for my dissertation, and have finalized the scope, and defended my proposal. I have already 1) Classified existing interfaces into categories for the purpose of this study, and compiled lists of advantages and disadvantages for each category. 2) Identified the dimensions on which these categories differ, and selected those that are to be considered in this study. 3) Chosen three of categories ( Command Language, Menu, Direct Manipulation) that encompass sufficient variability on each of the dimensions. 4) Designed a suitable task scenario and tasks to be used in experimental tests. 5) Developed (not yet perfected) an "ad-hoc" (in that it is not very rigorous) method of extracting the cognitive skills required to perform a task from an analysis of the task (assuming it is optimally performed on a particular interface). I felt that none of the existing methods of cognitive analysis ... (thats a long story, will get into it some other time if anyone is interested). 6) Decided which cognitive abilities to consider(using tests from the ETS kit of factor-referenced cognitive tests). 7) Designed an experiment, and developed the experimental procedure. I am currently working on : 1) Finalizing the experimental tasks and perfrecting the method for extracting cognitive requirements, 2) Developing Command Language, Menu (walk-through), and Direct Manipulation interface prototypes for the experiment. I am using HYPERCARD on a MAC IIci. 3) Getting some kind of specialist support for the development of the interface prototypes. I feel that the closeness of the prototypes to existing systems willbe a major factor in determining the validity of the results of this study. Path: palan-t Newsgroups:comp.human-factors Distribution: world Followup-To: From: palan-t@minnie.eng.buffalo.edu (raj palanivel) Reply-To: palan-t@minnie.eng.buffalo.edu, v124r7s4@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (raj palanivel) Organization: SUNY Buffalo, Dept. of IE Subject:Individual Differences I am currently working on my dissertation (tentatively) entitled : "Individual Differences in Cognition : Implications for Interface Design." I have followed some of the discussion in this group with regard to the big gap between research done in academia, and the design principles being practiced in industry. I am about six months away from finishing up and felt that I should take this oppurtunity to try and narrow this gap as much as possible, at least for my own work ! A summary of the main ideas follows. I would be grateful for any comments / criticism / suggestions / references. Especially with regard to the validity / need for such research, and the development of interface prototypes. To give some idea of the inter-disciplinary nature of this project and to give credit to the other people involved in this work: I have an undergraduate degree in engineering and a graduate degree in Operations Research. My co-advisors (and their backgrounds) are Valerie Shalin (Cognitive Psych.), and Martin Helander (Ergonomics). Erwin Segal (Cognitive Psych., Linguistics) is the third member of my committee. Raj Palanivel Dept. of Industrial Engg. SUNY @ Buffalo (716) 636-2357 --- While there has been considerable research and development in the areas of : 1) Designing interfaces to optimize performance on specific tasks/applications and 2) Designing interfaces to optimize the performance of Expert/Novice users, there has not been a whole lot of research looking at whether individual differences in cognitive processing (other than those based on the user's knowledge and/or experience) play a significant role in predicting performance. And if they do, how the effects of such differences interact with the effects ofinterface characteristics. Almost all of the previous work in this area has considered specific task domains (e.g. text-editing). Egan (1988, Chapter on Individual Differences in the "Handbook of Human-Computer Interaction", M. Helander (Ed.)) has done a comprehensive review of the area, and has tabulated the results from several studies. He points out the need to consider individual differences (quantitatively shows the highly significant effects of such differences on performance), andexplains some of the design/training methods followed in the past to accomodate such differences. My own work is focussed on whether there exist any pairings between users' cognitive profiles (the combimation of cognitive processing abilities and capacities of a user) and the INTERACTION STYLE/PRINCIPLE of an interface (e.g. Command Language based, or Direct Manipulation based), that optimize performanceat the "operating system level" (domain-inspecific tasks like manipulating and managing files, and navigating through file hierarchies). For example, can one predict that a user with high verbal and reasoning skills but relatively low spatial skills, will perform (the same task) better on a Command Language based interface, than on a Direct Manipulation based interface. From a different pointof view, can one say for example, that verbal ability is the single best predictor of performance on a command language interface ? I have done most of the theoretical development for my dissertation, and have finalized the scope, and defended my proposal. I have already 1) Classified existing interfaces into categories for the purpose of this study, and compiled lists of advantages and disadvantages for each category. 2) Identified the dimensions on which these categories differ, and selected those that are to be considered in this study. 3) Chosen three of categories ( Command Language, Menu, Direct Manipulation) that encompass sufficient variability on each of the dimensions. 4) Designed a suitable task scenario and tasks to be used in experimental tests. 5) Developed (not yet perfected) an "ad-hoc" (in that it is not very rigorous) method of extracting the cognitive skills required to perform a task from an analysis of the task (assuming it is optimally performed on a particular interface). I felt that none of the existing methods of cognitive analysis ... (thats a long story, will get into it some other time if anyone is interested). 6) Decided which cognitive abilities to consider(using tests from the ETS kit of factor-referenced cognitive tests). 7) Designed an experiment, and developed the experimental procedure. I am currently working on : 1) Finalizing the experimental tasks and perfrecting the method for extracting cognitive requirements, 2) Developing Command Language, Menu (walk-through), and Direct Manipulation interface prototypes for the experiment. I am using HYPERCARD on a MAC IIci. 3) Getting some kind of specialist support for the development of the interface prototypes. I feel that the closeness of the prototypes to existing systems willbe a major factor in determining the validity of the results of this study. Path: palan-t Newsgroups:comp.human-factors Distribution: world Followup-To: From: palan-t@minnie.eng.buffalo.edu (raj palanivel) Reply-To: palan-t@minnie.eng.buffalo.edu, v124r7s4@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (raj palanivel) Organization: SUNY Buffalo, Dept. of IE Subject:Individual Differences I am currently working on my dissertation (tentatively) entitled : "Individual Differences in Cognition : Implications for Interface Design." I have followed some of the discussion in this group with regard to the big gap between research done in academia, and the design principles being practiced in industry. I am about six months away from finishing up and felt that I should take this oppurtunity to try and narrow this gap as much as possible, at least for my own work ! A summary of the main ideas follows. I would be grateful for any comments / criticism / suggestions / references. Especially with regard to the validity / need for such research, and the development of interface prototypes. To give some idea of the inter-disciplinary nature of this project and to give credit to the other people involved in this work: I have an undergraduate degree in engineering and a graduate degree in Operations Research. My co-advisors (and their backgrounds) are Valerie Shalin (Cognitive Psych.), and Martin Helander (Ergonomics). Erwin Segal (Cognitive Psych., Linguistics) is the third member of my committee. Raj Palanivel Dept. of Industrial Engg. SUNY @ Buffalo (716) 636-2357 --------------- palan-t@minnie.eng.buffalo.edu, v124r7s4@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (raj palanivel) --------------- While there has been considerable research and development in the areas of : 1) Designing interfaces to optimize performance on specific tasks/applications and 2) Designing interfaces to optimize the performance of Expert/Novice users, there has not been a whole lot of research looking at whether individual differences in cognitive processing (other than those based on the user's knowledge and/or experience) play a significant role in predicting performance. And if they do, how the effects of such differences interact with the effects ofinterface characteristics. Almost all of the previous work in this area has considered specific task domains (e.g. text-editing). Egan (1988, Chapter on Individual Differences in the "Handbook of Human-Computer Interaction", M. Helander (Ed.)) has done a comprehensive review of the area, and has tabulated the results from several studies. He points out the need to consider individual differences (quantitatively shows the highly significant effects of such differences on performance), andexplains some of the design/training methods followed in the past to accomodate such differences. My own work is focussed on whether there exist any pairings between users' cognitive profiles (the combimation of cognitive processing abilities and capacities of a user) and the INTERACTION STYLE/PRINCIPLE of an interface (e.g. Command Language based, or Direct Manipulation based), that optimize performanceat the "operating system level" (domain-inspecific tasks like manipulating and managing files, and navigating through file hierarchies). For example, can one predict that a user with high verbal and reasoning skills but relatively low spatial skills, will perform (the same task) better on a Command Language based interface, than on a Direct Manipulation based interface. From a different pointof view, can one say for example, that verbal ability is the single best predictor of performance on a command language interface ? I have done most of the theoretical development for my dissertation, and have finalized the scope, and defended my proposal. I have already 1) Classified existing interfaces into categories for the purpose of this study, and compiled lists of advantages and disadvantages for each category. 2) Identified the dimensions on which these categories differ, and selected those that are to be considered in this study. 3) Chosen three of categories ( Command Language, Menu, Direct Manipulation) that encompass sufficient variability on each of the dimensions. 4) Designed a suitable task scenario and tasks to be used in experimental tests. 5) Developed (not yet perfected) an "ad-hoc" (in that it is not very rigorous) method of extracting the cognitive skills required to perform a task from an analysis of the task (assuming it is optimally performed on a particular interface). I felt that none of the existing methods of cognitive analysis ... (thats a long story, will get into it some other time if anyone is interested). 6) Decided which cognitive abilities to consider(using tests from the ETS kit of factor-referenced cognitive tests). 7) Designed an experiment, and developed the experimental procedure. I am currently working on : 1) Finalizing the experimental tasks and perfrecting the method for extracting cognitive requirements, 2) Developing Command Language, Menu (walk-through), and Direct Manipulation interface prototypes for the experiment. I am using HYPERCARD on a MAC IIci. 3) Getting some kind of specialist support for the development of the interface prototypes. I feel that the closeness of the prototypes to existing systems willbe a major factor in determining the validity of the results of this study.