Accommodating individual differences in searching a hierarchical file system

Abstract

(ABSTRACT) Individual differences among users of a hierarchical file system were investigated. The results of a first experiment indicated that psychometric tests of vocabulary and spatial visualization were the best predictors of task performance, accounting for 45% of the variance in the data. The spatial predictor was found to be the most influential. This was dramatically illustrated by the fact that, on the average, subjects with lo\v spatial ability took twice as long to perform the task as those with high spatial ability. Surprisingly, experience alone did not predict task performance. A comparison of the frequency of command usage between subjects with high and low spatial abilities revealed that those with low spatial ability were getting lost in the hierarchical file structure.Based on the concept of visual momentum, two changes to the interface were proposed.The changes consisted of a partial map of the hierarchy and an analog indicator of current file position. A second experiment compared the performance of users with high and lo\v spatial abilities on the old Verbal interface and the new Graphical interface.The Graphical interface resulted in changes in command usage that were consistent with the predictions of the visual momentum analysis. Although these changes in strategy resulted in a performance advantage for the Graphical interface, the relative performance difference between High and Low Spatial groups remained constant across interfaces. However, the new interface did result in a decrease in the within-group variability in performance.

Impact of Spatial Visualization Aptitude on WWW Navigation

“…Carroll [11] conducted an exploratory survey that yielded five factors of spatial aptitude belonging to the visual perceptual domain: visualization (VZ), spatial relations (SR), closure speed (CS), closure flexibility (CF), and perceptual speed (PS). Spatial visualization has been found as the most important factor among the factors of spatial aptitude that influence navigation in the WWW [11][12][13]. SV is the 'ability in manipulating visual patterns, as indicated by level of difficulty and complexity in visual stimulus material that can be handled successfully, without regard to the speed of task solution' [11] (p. 362).…”

Visualising semantic spaces and author co-citation networks in digital libraries

“…More work is needed in areas such as evaluating the usability of such visualisation paradigms in realistic digital libraries and investigating the role of individual differences in exploring a complex semantic space (Benyon & Höök, 1997;Chen & Czerwinski, 1997;Dillon & Watson, 1996;Vicente & Williges, 1988). We have been pursuing a number of projects addressing individual differences and social dimensions of virtual environments (Chen, Cole, & Thomas, 1998;Chen & Czerwinski, 1998).…”

Investigating the Relationship between Spatial Ability and Feedback Style in ITSs

“…Learners with high spatial abilities perform better with graphic or spatially-oriented content than those with low spatial ability. It is worth noting, however, that a low spatial ability score is not a deficit; there is evidence that it can be improved through training and practice [5,6]. Nevertheless, changing ITSs to accommodate low spatial ability learners could be more practical and beneficial for the system/domain's problem-solving task.…”