User-Initiated Commands for Text Formatting: Information and Syntax

Abstract

The study examined the effects of information load and syntax in user-initiated text formatting commands on the performance of computer-naive operators. Information load was varied through the number of parameters following the command and the number of alternatives for each parameter. Parameter values were specified using two types of syntax: mnemonic words and sequential numbers. Measures of operator response time and accurracy were taken on tests of command specification and command interpretation. Increases in the number of command parameters and number of alternatives per parameter contributed equally to increases in response time. Response time for word syntax was slower than numeric syntax. Performance improvements over tests were greater for word syntax than numeric syntax. The findings were interpreted as indicating the importance of the association value of words used in software languages which use English words.