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The contributions of applied cognitive psychology to the study of human-computer interaction.
Authors:
Barnard, P.
Reference:
In B. Shackel & S. Richardson (Eds.), Human Factors for Informatics Usability (pp. 151-182). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. (See also 2206)
Year of publication:
1991
CBU number:
2205
Abstract:
This chapter addresses two questions: What progress is being made within applied cognitive psychology towards contributing a principled understanding of the phenomena of system use? and What are the prospects for the systematic application of that principled understanding? Alternative "visions" of an applied science are examined and an organising schema for the role of empirical and conceptual methods is outlined. The achievements of applied research are then reviewed under four headings: the achievements of exploratory empiricism; the achievements of analytic approaches; the achievements of experimental approaches; and theoretical synthesis as a means to pragmatic tools. Having outlined the nature of many of the research activities, the realities of those achievements will be examined from both a scientific and applications perspective. The chapter concludes the assessment by considering a sample of issues that need to be addressed in order to strengthen future contributions.
