“Tools to tap into the content of human minds”

Abstract

As research has shown, future motor vehicle mechatronic technicians at the end of their vocational training often fail to successfully diagnose electric and electronic car systems. The project presented in this paper aims at integrating an existing simulation of electronic car systems into two interactive multimedia training programs yet to be developed. Both training programs will focus on the apprentices’ so-called reception competences on different competence levels, and will be evaluated for effectiveness. In a first step, missing evidence on the apprentices’ cognitive barriers in diagnosis-related reception processes was collected. Based on their performance in a pre-test, 24 participants were selected for participation in think-aloud interviews and cognitive labs. The resultant data were analysed and provide a promising basis for developing the training programs. On top of that, our research has yielded valuable findings that shed light on unanswered scientific questions and practical issues, a fact that underlines the power of both interview techniques.