Qualitative Theories of Cognition

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Qualitative Theories of Cognition

• Studying context

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Agenda

• Questions
• When was P1 due?
• Some assumptions/problems with previous models
• Summary of other models of cognition
• Situated action, activity theory, distributed
  cognition

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Modeling Problems

• 1. Terminology - example
• High frequency use experts -gt cmd language
• Infrequent novices -gt menus
• Whats frequent, novice?
• 2. Dependent on grain of analysis used
• Can break down getting a cup of coffee into 7,
  20, or 50 tasks
• That affects number of rules and their types

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Modeling Problems (contd.)

• 3. Does not involve user per se
• Doesnt inform designer of what user wants
• 4. Time-consuming and lengthy
• Not necessarily unique problem
• 5. One user, one computer issue (lack of social
  context)

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Context and Cognition

• Human information processor models all involve
  unaided individual
• In reality, people work with other people and
  other artifacts
• Other models of human cognition
• Situation action
• Activity theory
• Distributed cognition

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Situated Action

• Noted proponent Lucy Suchman
• Much of the theory that underlies ethnography

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Situated Action

• Studies situated activity or practice
• Activity grows out of the particulars of a
  situation
• Improvisation is important
• Basic unit of analysis is the activity of
  persons acting in a setting

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Example

• Need 3/4 of 2/3 of cup of cottage cheese
• Just has a simple measuring cup available
• Person solves problem by
• Measuring 2/3 cup
• Pouring out into a circle
• Divide into quadrants
• Take away one
• One time solution to one time problem

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Other comments on S.A.

• Emergent property of moment-by-moment
  interactions
• Improvisation
• Detailed temporal accounts
• De-emphasizes rigid plans and rational problem
  solving

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S.A. Principles

• Structuring of an activity grows out of immediacy
  of the situation
• People engage in opportunistic, flexible ways to
  solve problems
• Formulaic plans
• Rational problem solving

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Activity Theory

• Long history
• HCI proponent Bonnie Nardi

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Activity Theory

• Unit of analysis is an activity
• Components

subject, object, actions, operations
Noun
Held by subject, motivates activity object of
game
Goal-directedprocesses tasks
How actionis carried out
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A.T. Principles

• Key idea Notion of mediation by artifacts
• Our work is a computer-mediated activity
• Starring role goes to activity
• In regular HCI, stars are person and machine
• Context is not out there. It is generated by
  people in activities

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Distributed Cognition

• HCI Proponent Ed Hutchins
• Distributed collection of interacting people and
  artifacts

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Distributed Cognition

• Unit of analysis is cognitive system composed of
  individuals and the artifacts they use
• Studies the coordination and cooperation between
  people and artifacts in a distributed process

like activity
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D.C. Principles

• Individual agents
• Distributed collection of interacting people and
  artifacts
• Functional system is what matters, not individual
  thoughts in peoples heads

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Comparing Models

• The role of goals or intentions
• S.A. retrospective reconstructions
• A.T. D.C central
• Persistent structures
• S.A. emphasize emergent/ contingent/
  improvisatory over routine/predictable
• A.T. our activity assimilates experience of
  humanity
• D.C. much focus on transformation of artifacts
  over time

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Comparing Models

• People and things
• MHP model each as a machine, study the diad of
  H-C
• S.A. qualitatively different, but mostly
  reactive
• A.T. computers and people not equals, a moral
  stance
• D.C. both are agents, study multiagent system

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Some Commentary

• Take the reading with a grain of salt.
• How does this influence design?