Designing Help Systems Using a GOMS Model: Part 1. An Information Retrieval Evaluation

Abstract

Using the GOMS model (Card, Moran, and Newell, 1983), a help system was developed which was complete and well structured. The content of this help system was determined from the goals, operators, methods, and selection rules, needed to perform HyperCard (TM) authoring tasks. The index to these help methods, which was an integrated part of the system, was determined from the hierarchical goal tree provided by the GOMS analysis. To determine the effectiveness of using GOMS as a design aid for help systems, the GOMS help system was compared to a state-of-the-art help interface developed by Apple (R) Computer which was modified slightly for experimental purposes (Original help system). Two groups of 14 users, assigned to one of the two help systems, retrieved help information for 56 tasks separated into 4 sessions. Human- computer interaction, Online help, Information retrieval.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 21, 1989
Accession Number
ADA213603

Entities

People

  • Jay Elkerton
  • Susan Palmiter

Organizations

  • University of Michigan

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Autonomy
  • Biomedical
  • Human Systems
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Cognitive Systems Engineering
  • Computer Languages
  • Computer Science
  • Computers
  • Engineering
  • Human Factors Engineering
  • Human Systems Integration
  • Human-Computer Interaction
  • Information Retrieval
  • Military Research
  • Psychology
  • Reliability
  • Schools
  • Students
  • Systems Engineering
  • User Interface
  • User Interface Engineering

Fields of Study

  • Computer science

Readers

  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Database Systems and Applications
  • Materials Science (Mechanical Engineering).

Technology Areas

  • AI & ML
  • AI & ML - Information Retrieval