Comprehension of Instructions for Operating Devices.

Abstract

Two experiments assess the processes by which written instructions for operating a piece of equipment are comprehended. Experiment 1 shows that comprehension is fastest when information on the action is to be performed, the consequences of the action, and the conditions under which it is to be performed, match the order in which it is needed to fill in a schema for executing the instruction. Experiment 2 shows that subjects use a step schema for organizing the reading process even when the material is to be read and recalled verbatim instead of being executed. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 1984
Accession Number
ADA145263

Entities

People

  • E. E. Smith
  • K. T. Spoehr
  • M. E. Morris

Organizations

  • BBN Technologies

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Comprehension
  • Instructions

Readers

  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Brain and Cognitive Science; Experimental Psychology; Cognitive Neuroscience