Microcomputers in engineering applications: Edited by B.A. Schrefler and R.W. Lewis John Wiley 1987, Hardback, 331 pp, £26, 0 471 91043 0

Abstract

This study investigated whether measures of error type, frequency, and sequencing contribute to understanding how different types of domain knowledge influence human performance when using information systems. Micro-level analyses of errors were conducted to compare the performance of two groups using a geographical information system (GIS). Error types, error frequency, error sequencing, and task completion were measured and compared for the two groups. The two groups were similar in frequency of type of errors; both committed terminological and trial errors more frequently than the other 10 types. Error patterns or sequences were likewise similar, and domain of expertise did not affect task completion time. The group with domain knowledge in computer science showed a somewhat greater tendency to commit certain knowledge-based errors (KBEs), indicating an association between knowledge-based errors and procedural knowledge. The group with domain knowledge in geography committed certain rule-based errors (RBEs) more often, indicating an association between rule-based errors and declarative knowledge. Therefore, error type does hold promise as a measure of the relationship between domain knowledge type and human performance using information systems.