Individual Difference Effects in Human-Computer Interaction

Abstract

One of the most common assumptions in design of Human-Computer interfaces is that there is an advantage to matching the psychological (cognitive) characteristics of the user to the interface features of the computer. However, except in the area of training and experience there have been few clear demonstrations that underlying cognitive characteristics of the user significantly interact with interface features. This paper will describe an experiment in which the effects of individual differences in user's information (cognitive) style (specifically field independence/dependence and breadth of categorization) upon interaction with a complex computer program were examined. The program was a realistically difficult personal finance management system which required database searching and problem solving activities. The program was rich enough to allow alternative interaction methods. The experiment comprised three parts. In the first phase, subjects learned how to use the computer system. In the second phase the subjects entered information into a personal finance database and in the third phase the subjects used their personal database to locate and correct discrepancies between a simulated bank statement and financial records. Prior to these experimental tasks subjects information-cognitive styles were evaluated using standardized tests of field independence/field dependence and breadth of categorization. The results indicate that users with different underlying information styles, at similar levels of learning, have different preferred methods of interacting with the computer, and, that different database search methods are preferred by users of different cognitive styles. For example, field independent subjects preferred key-word multidimensional, non sequential database search methods while field dependent subjects used a method in which the database was searched in a linear, sequential mode. This research is sponsored by US Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences