Turning research into practice
Marita Franzke · 1995
This research investigates how several characteristics of display-based systems support or hinder the exploration and retention of the functions needed to perform tasks in a new application.In particular it is shown how the combination of the type of interface action, the number of interaction objects presented on the screen, and the quality of the label associated with these objects interact in supporting discovery and retention of the functionality embedded in those systems.An experiment is reported which provides empirical evidence for Polson & Lewis's CE+ theory of exploratory learning of computer systems [11].It also extends this theory and therefore leads to a refinement of the cognitive walkthrough procedure tllat was derived from it.The study uses an experimental method that combines observations from realistically complex task scenarios with a dek'liled analysis of ilie observed perfonnance.