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Icon Familiarity Affects the Performance of Complex Cognitive Tasks
Zhangfan Shen1, Linghao Zhang1, Xing Xiao1
1School of Design, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China.
I-Perception
|March 18, 2020
Summary
User familiarity with symbols significantly improves performance on complex cognitive tasks. Increased icon familiarity enhances accuracy and speed, especially as task complexity grows, aiding working memory.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Information Processing
Background:
- Symbol familiarity is crucial for efficient cognitive processing.
- Working memory capacity is a key factor in complex task performance.
- Understanding how symbol familiarity impacts cognitive load is essential for interface design.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of user familiarity with symbols on complex cognitive task performance.
- To determine how icon familiarity interacts with task complexity.
- To extend the understanding of familiarity's role in working memory and information processing.
Main Methods:
- A modified mathematical task incorporating an icon familiarity training paradigm.
- Manipulation of task complexity through icon familiarity (high vs. low), equation type (substitution vs. no-substitution), and solution steps (one vs. two).
- Measurement of performance via accuracy and response time.
Main Results:
- Participants demonstrated improved performance on equation-solving tasks with familiar icons.
- Icon familiarity showed a significant interaction with task complexity.
- The positive impact of icon familiarity on performance (accuracy, response time) increased with higher task complexity.
Conclusions:
- Symbol familiarity enhances not only information retrieval but also subsequent cognitive processing.
- Familiarity's influence on working memory is amplified under conditions of increased task complexity.
- Practical implications suggest prioritizing symbol learning for improved interaction efficiency in digital systems.
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