Effects of sign symbol function, computer experience, and context on the interpretation of pictorial sign symbols used in a human-computer interface

121 Pages·1993·2.8 MB·English

by  Kamper, Robert J.

THE EFFECTS OF SIGN SYMBOL FUNCTION,
COMPUTER EXPERIENCE, AND CONTEXT
ON THE INTERPRETATION OF PICTORIAL SIGN SYMBOLS
USED IN A HUMAN-COMPUTER INTERFACE
By
ROBERT KAMPER
J.
A DISSERTATION PRESENTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL
OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT
OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
1993
Copyright 1993
by
Robert J. Kamper
This dissertation is dedicated to my parents, Charles and Beatrice Kamper, to
my wife, Sondra M. Kamper, and to my children, Molly Kamper, Katherine Kamper,
and Michael Hoffmann.
L
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to extend thanks to the many people who have contributed to my
studies at the University of Florida and the completion of this dissertation project,
both directly and indirectly.
Thanks are expressed to my chairperson and the members of my doctoral
committee. Thanks are extended to Lee Mullally for his personification of the
principles and ideals that inspired me to pursue this degree. Thanks are also extended
to Jeff Hurt and Roy Bolduc for their enthusiasm and good humor and to David
Miller and Sandra Damico for their guidance. Thanks are extended to all members of
the committee for their patience and professionalism. I am privileged to have had
them on the committee.
Thanks are also extended to Sebastian Foti and Bob Melczarek for their
assistance in conducting the pilot project. I am deeply indebted to Dr. Wayne Wolfe
of the Office of Instructional Resources, and Nancy Sorkin and David Gruber of the
Faculty Support Center for their participation in both the formative and final stages of
this project.
Special thanks go to John Tyler for his criticism and review of early drafts of
this material and for his assistance in the development of the stimuli.
IV
Finally, my greatest appreciation and thanks are reserved for my friend and
spouse, Sondra M. Kamper, without whose cooperation and support this endeavor
would not have occurred.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
iv
LIST OF TABLES
viii
LIST OF FIGURES
ix
ABSTRACT
x
CHAPTER INTRODUCTION
1 1
Statement of the Problem
1
Need for the Study 5
Definition of Terms 10
Limitations 13
Hypotheses 14
Summary
15
CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 16
Knowlton's Taxonomy 18
Educational Media 27
Signs and Symbols, Pictograms and Pictographs 31
Pictorial Sign Symbols in the Human-Computer Interface 35
Computer Experience, Literacy, and Knowledge 52
Summary 56
CHAPTER METHODOLOGY
3 58
Research Design 58
Population and Sample 59
Materials and Measures 61
Procedure 65
Summary 72
VI
CHAPTER 4 RESULTS AND ANALYSIS 74
Introduction 74
Results 75
Analysis 78
CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 86
Introduction 86
Findings 87
Discussion 88
Implications 92
Recommendations for Future Research 94
Summary 96
REFERENCE LIST 99
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH 107
vu
LIST OF TABLES
Table page
3-L Research Design 61
3-2. Expert Ratings of Pictorial Sign Symbols 66
4-1. Analysis of Variance Summary Table—Between Subjects Effects 75
4-2. Analysis of Variance Summary Table—Within Subjects Effects 76
4-3. Means of Pictorial Sign Symbols by Sequence of Viewing 79
4-4. Repeated Measures Analysis of Variance
Contrast Between Realistic Sign Symbols and Sequence 81
4-5. Repeated Measures Analysis of Variance
Contrast Between Analogical Sign Symbols and Sequence 82
4-6. Repeated Measures Analysis of Variance
Contrast Between Logical Sign Symbols and Sequence 83
4-7. Means by Computer Experience Type 85
vm
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure page
1-1. Example of a Realistic Picture 10
1-2. Example of an Analogical Picture 11
1-3. Example of a Logical Picture 12
4-1. Means of Pictorial Sign Symbols by Sequence of Viewing 80
4-2. Means by Type of Computer Experience 84
IX
Abstract of Dissertation Presented to the Graduate School
of the University of Florida in Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
THE EFFECTS OF SIGN SYMBOL FUNCTION,
COMPUTER EXPERIENCE, AND CONTEXT
ON THE INTERPRETATION OF PICTORIAL SIGN SYMBOLS
USED IN A HUMAN-COMPUTER INTERFACE
By
Robert J. Kamper
August 1993
Chairperson: Lee J. Mullally, Ph.D.
Major Department: Instruction and Curriculum
This study was conducted to determine whether types of computer-related
experience, viewing context and sequence affect the ability to interpret different
functional types of pictorial sign symbols used in human-computer interfaces. Groups
of teacher education students viewed and attempted to interpret sets of pictorial sign
symbols representing common word processing menu commands, constructed
according to Knowlton's taxonomy of functional picture types. The statistical analysis
ANOVA ona3x2x3x3
used a four-way based factorial design with repeated
measures. Factors measured included computer experience type (three levels),
context (two levels), pictorial sign symbol (PSS) type (three levels), and sequence of
viewing (three levels).