Adapting the De Groot Memory Recall Paradigm to Evaluate Interface Transparency

摘要

The paper is concerned with developing a methodology for evaluating the effectiveness with which an interface supports knowledge-based problem solving. The memory recall paradigm pioneered by de Groot (1965) is suggested as a plausible methodology. A thorough review of the empirical findings in the literature and the various theoretical accounts of the chunking phenomenon was conducted, and a novel integrative account of chunking was proposed. Based on the description of the psychological processes associated with chunking, it was concluded that a variation of the memory recall methodology can indeed be used to evaluate interface transparency. In addition, recommendations for adapting the paradigm to the characteristics of the process control environment are made. Finally, a preliminary proposal for applying the methodology to evaluate Beltracchi's (1987a) Rankine cycle interface is also described.