Cognitive Engineering

1PSYC530 wk01 handoutsCognitive EngineeringCognitive Science Applied to HumanFactorsCovers cognitive theory from an applied perspective to understand andpredict the interactions among human cognition, artifact (i.e., tools),and task. Cognitive task analysis (CTA) techniques will be taught andused throughout the course. The CTAs covered might include CognitiveWalkthru, Keystroke Level Modeling, Activity Networks, in general, andvarious members of the GOMS (Goals, Operators, Methods, andSelection Rule) family, in particular. In addition, computational cognitivemodels will be introduced and used to illustrate the expressive andpredictive power of computational modeling. (Note that computationalmodeling will not be taught in this course.) Thruout the course studentswill be required to read and discuss original research papers.Psyc2965wk01Introduction to Cognitive EngineeringTopics covered may include Visual search and visual attention Cognitive Skill and Its Acquisition Hard Constraints on Interactive Behavior Human Error Soft Constraints on Interactive Behavior Soft Contraints on Judgment and Decision-Making Behavior Experts & ExpertisePsyc2965wk01Introduction to Cognitive Engineering

2PSYC530 wk01 handoutsTechniques covered may include Use of simulated task environments in research Use of eye movement technology Analysis of action log filesPsyc2965wk01Introduction to Cognitive EngineeringArtificial neeringHFESPsyc2965IOwk01Introduction to Cognitive Engineering

3PSYC530 wk01 handoutsHow does Cognitive EngineeringDiffer from Human Factors? Designing machines that accommodate the limitsof the human user is a major concern of the fieldof human factors. The field of human factors is broader than thiscourse, and broader than cognitive engineering.Both the course and the program concentrate ondesigning systems that accommodate theinformation-processing capabilities of the humanmind.Psyc2965wk01Introduction to Cognitive EngineeringHuman Factors Goal of Human Factors, to apply knowledge indesigning systems that work, accommodating thelimits of human performance and exploiting theadvantages of the human operator in the process.Psyc2965wk01Introduction to Cognitive Engineering

4PSYC530 wk01 handoutsCognitive Engineering Is notable for its– Solid theoretical basis and close relation to theoreticalcognitive science– Indeed -- most people who do cognitive engineeringresearch also do basic cognitive research– (Though it is not true that most people who docognitive engineering also do research.)Psyc2965wk01Introduction to Cognitive EngineeringTheoretical Cognitive Science Unlike cognitive engineering, the Goals ofTheoretical Cognitive Science are– to uncover laws of behavior through empiricalstudy and cognitive modeling– It is NOT a requirement that cognitive sciencegenerate immediately useful knowledgePsyc2965wk01Introduction to Cognitive Engineering

5PSYC530 wk01 handoutsHuman Factors, Theoretical CognitiveScience, and Cognitive Engineering Cognitive Engineering has its own unique goalsderived from the intersection of these two: Aim ofapplied cognition is not simply to compare twopossible designs for a piece of equipment (role ofHF), but to specify the capacities and limitationsof the human from which the choice of a betterdesign should be directly deducibleAdapted from Wickens, 1992Psyc2965wk01Introduction to Cognitive EngineeringResearch Credos “There is nothing so useful as a good theory.”Lewin, K. (1951). Field theory in social science. New York: Harper Row. “Nothing drives basic science better than agood applied problem.” Newell, A., & Card, S. K. (1985). Theprospects for psychological science in human-computer interaction. Human-ComputerInteraction, 1(3), 209-242.– “The reverse side of the coin is that this practicalpressure of technology can also be of benefit topsychological science itself by providing asustained, concrete set of problems to solve withvisibly measurable results.”Psyc2965wk01Introduction to Cognitive Engineering

6PSYC530 wk01 handouts¿Applied Cognition? Subtitle of course is: Cognitive ScienceApplied to Human Factors Begs the question of how does cognitivescience inform human factors issue?Psyc2965wk01Introduction to Cognitive EngineeringSimon’s Ant“A person attempts to achieve his goals by doing those things the task itself requires to be done.Much of the complexity of human behavior derives not from the complexity of the humanhimself (he is simply trying to achieve his goals), but from the complexity of the taskenvironment in which the goal-seeking takes place” Card, Moran, & Newell, 1983, p. 86.Psyc2965wk01Introduction to Cognitive Engineering

7PSYC530 wk01 handoutsThe fundamental principle of taskanalysis Rationality Principle.A person acts so as to attain his/her goals throughrational action, given the structure of the taskand the inputs of information, and bounded bylimitations on his knowledge and processingability:Goals Task Operators Inputs Knowledge Process-limitsBehavior.Card, Moran, & Newell, 1983, p. 86.Psyc2965wk01Introduction to Cognitive EngineeringThe basic problem for goal-oriented cognition:Task-action mapping From what we want to do:RECORD StarTrekDOWSTARTTIMESaturday 7:00pmCHANNEL11ENDTIME8:00pmDOW day-of-weekPsyc2965wk01Introduction to Cognitive Engineering

8PSYC530 wk01 handoutsTask-action mapping To what the artifact requires us to do:RECORD StarTrekSetVCRProgram T-MIN00Where “this” involves 30 keypresses and the setting andcompleting of 19 goals and subgoalsPsyc2965wk01Introduction to Cognitive EngineeringNewell’s analysis of levels: The Time Scale ofHuman ActionScale rs100010 minActivities/ProcessesSocial &OrganizationalEducationTraditional Task AnalysisSubtasksminSubtaskUnit Task AnalysisProcedures10 secUnit taskCognitive Task AnalysisMethods1 secActivitiesEmbodied CognitionMicrostrategies1/3 secEmbodimentLevelProduction RulesConflictResolution0.1100 msProductionSystemElements (DME-MA-VA)Activation0.0110 msAtomicComponents1001010.001Psyc29651 msWorld (theory)ArchitecturalBoundedRationalityCognitive Band(symbolic)Biological Band(subsymbolic)Parameterswk01Introduction to Cognitive Engineering

9PSYC530 wk01 handoutsWhy do we need CognitiveScientists? In Bounded Rationality band? Who cares about the discipline -- as long asthe job gets done? Why not a computer scientist? Why not an experimental psychologist? What do we have to offer that otherdisciplines do not?Psyc2965wk01Introduction to Cognitive EngineeringProspects for PsychologicalScience Newell & Card (1985)– Key to this class– Key to Cognitive Engineering as asubdiscipline Hard science drives out soft sciencePsyc2965wk01Introduction to Cognitive Engineering

10PSYC530 wk01 handoutsHard and Soft Sciences of theInterface Computer Science versus Cognitive Scienceand Human Factors Soft and Hard Cognitive Science A Cognitive Science approach to“hardening” the science of the interfacePsyc2965wk01Introduction to Cognitive EngineeringMore Problems with CurrentApproach Build two and I’ll test them So what? Cost-Benefit Tradeoffs?Psyc2965wk01Introduction to Cognitive Engineering

11PSYC530 wk01 handoutsProblems of Timing and Form Inputs from Human Factors professionalsare often not effective due to timing andform– Timing– FormPsyc2965wk01Introduction to Cognitive EngineeringThe Vision Get in at the beginning “It’s not just my opinion!”– Models as the answer!– Answers come from the MODEL not from theMODELERPsyc2965wk01Introduction to Cognitive Engineering

12PSYC530 wk01 handoutsProperties of an EngineeringStyle Theory of Interactivebehavior Task analysis Calculation ApproximationPsyc2965wk01Introduction to Cognitive EngineeringNewell’s analysis of levels -- RevisitedScale (sec)Time kTask100000daysTask10000hours100010 min100minSubtaskUnit Task Analysis1010 secUnit taskCognitive Task Analysis11 secActivitiesMicrostrategy Analysis1/3 secEmbodied Activities (Basicunits of embodied cognition)Production Rules0.1100 msProduction RuleElements (DME-MA-VA)0.0110 msElementsArchitectural0.0011 msParametersPsyc2965SystemAnalysisWorld (theory)Social &OrganizationalEducationTraditional Task AnalysisBoundedRationalitywk01Cognitive Band(symbolic)Biological Band(subsymbolic)Introduction to Cognitive Engineering

13PSYC530 wk01 handoutsCognitiveBounded RationalityHow are the cognitive and bounded rationality bandsconnected?– Time duration of most activities that HF worries about lies in both thecognitive and bounded-rationality bands– “Psychology delivers to the bounded-rationality band the model that must beused to understand what helps the user and how” (N&C, 85).– Understanding how the task is done, requires understanding the toolsavailable for doing the task. A cognitive task analysis, as opposed to simply atask analysis, takes into consideration the information processing tools thathumans bring.That is, the cognitive band supplies the operators and processinglimits (the ant) called for by the rationality principle. Likewise theonly inputs (the beach) that matter, are those that can be operatedupon at the cognitive level.Psyc2965wk01Introduction to Cognitive EngineeringTool, device,or interfacePsyc2965wk01Introduction to Cognitive Engineering

14PSYC530 wk01 handoutsTraditional Research in Cognitive PsychologyPsyc2965wk01Introduction to Cognitive EngineeringTraditional Human FactorsPsyc2965wk01Introduction to Cognitive Engineering

15PSYC530 wk01 handoutsTraditional EngineeringPsyc2965wk01Introduction to Cognitive EngineeringThe Cognitive EngineeringPerspective: Taking the ETA triad ionPsyc2965Taskwk01Introduction to Cognitive Engineering

cognitive science -Indeed -- most people who do cognitive engineering research also do basic cognitive research -(Though it is not true that most people who do . Psyc2965 wk01 Introduction to Cognitive Engineering Tool, device, or interface. PSYC530 wk01 handouts 14