Comprehension of Instructions for Operating Devices

摘要

Two experiments assess the processes by which written instructions for operating a piece of equipment are comprehended. Experiment 1 shows that comprehension is fastest when information on the action is to be performed, the consequences of the action, and the conditions under which it is to be performed, match the order in which it is needed to fill in a schema for executing the instruction. Experiment 2 shows that subjects use a step schema for organizing the reading process even when the material is to be read and recalled verbatim instead of being executed. (Author)