Using the Conant Method to Discover and Model Human-Machine Structures

1996 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 173-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Greg A. Jamieson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Models ◽  
Information Flow ◽  
Mental Model ◽  
Lattice Theory ◽  
Human Performance ◽  
Control Experiment ◽  
Empirical Validation ◽  
Crucial Step ◽  
Key Variables ◽  
Machine Systems

The term Mental Model has been used to account for human performance in a variety of domains. Cross disciplinary interpretations of the term have appeared incompatible with each other, threatening to render it vacuous. Moray (1988, 1990, 1991, in press) proposes lattice theory as a comprehensive formalism of the structure of Mental Models, assimilating the apparently disparate interpretations. To date, there has been little objective, quantitative support for mental models of complex human-machine systems. The Conant (1972, 1976, 1988) Method of Extended Dependency Analysis (EDA) suggests a viable quantitative means of discovering human-machine structures, a crucial step toward an empirical validation of the Mental Models concept. Results of a process control experiment suggest that a complex system can be reduced to a manageable number of key variables. Further, successful operators identify these variables and demonstrate patterns of information flow which exploit crucial system relationships.

Where is the body in the mental model for a story?

1997 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur C. Graesser
Keyword(s):  
Mental Models ◽  
Mental Model ◽  
The Body ◽  
Discourse Processing ◽  
On Line

Researchers in the field of discourse processing have investigated how mental models are constructed when adults comprehend stories. They have explored the process of encoding various classes of inferences “on-line” when these mental microworlds are constructed during comprehension. This commentary addresses the extent to which these inferences and mental microworlds are “embodied.”

Influence of Task and Situational Variables on the Applicability of Vigilance Data to Physical Security

1980 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 606-607
Author(s):  
Ben B. Morgan
Keyword(s):  
Real World ◽  
Human Performance ◽  
Clear Trend ◽  
General Belief ◽  
Situational Variables ◽  
Performance Requirements ◽  
Limited Applicability ◽  
Machine Systems ◽  
Inspection Tasks ◽  
The Many

Vigilance is one of the most thoroughly researched areas of human performance. Volumes have been written concerning vigilance performance in both laboratory and real-world settings, and there is a clear trend in the literature toward an increasing emphasis on the study of operational task behavior under environmental conditions that are common to real world jobs. Although a great deal of this research has been designed to test various aspects of the many theories of vigilance, there is a general belief that vigilance research is relevant and applicable to the performances required in real-world monitoring and inspection tasks. Indeed, many of the reported studies are justified on the basis of their apparent relevance to vigilance requirements in modern man-machine systems, industrial inspection tasks, and military jobs. There is a growing body of literature, however, which suggests that many vigilance studies are of limited applicability to operational task performance. For example, Kibler (1965) has argued that technological changes have altered job performance requirements to the extent that laboratory vigilance studies are no longer applicable to real-world jobs. Many others have simply been unable to reproduce the typical “vigilance decrement” in field situations. This has led Teichner (1974) to conclude that “the decremental function itself is more presumed than established.”

Watch For Failing Objects: What Inappropriate Compliance Reveals About Shared Mental Models In Autonomous Cars

2021 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 643-647
Author(s):  
Yosef S. Razin ◽  
Jack Gale ◽  
Jiaojiao Fan ◽  
Jaznae’ Smith ◽  
Karen M. Feigh
Keyword(s):  
Mental Models ◽  
Mental Model ◽  
False Positive Rate ◽  
Ground Truth ◽  
True Positive Rate ◽  
Shared Mental Models ◽  
Shared Mental Model ◽  
Autonomous Cars ◽  
Positive Rate ◽  
Dispositional Factors

This paper evaluates Banks et al.’s Human-AI Shared Mental Model theory by examining how a self-driving vehicle’s hazard assessment facilitates shared mental models. Participants were asked to affirm the vehicle’s assessment of road objects as either hazards or mistakes in real-time as behavioral and subjective measures were collected. The baseline performance of the AI was purposefully low (<50%) to examine how the human’s shared mental model might lead to inappropriate compliance. Results indicated that while the participant true positive rate was high, overall performance was reduced by the large false positive rate, indicating that participants were indeed being influenced by the Al’s faulty assessments, despite full transparency as to the ground-truth. Both performance and compliance were directly affected by frustration, mental, and even physical demands. Dispositional factors such as faith in other people’s cooperativeness and in technology companies were also significant. Thus, our findings strongly supported the theory that shared mental models play a measurable role in performance and compliance, in a complex interplay with trust.

scholarly journals Problem based learning: Students’ mental models on water conductivity concept

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 269
Author(s):  
John Rafafy Batlolona ◽  
Haryo Franky Souisa
Keyword(s):  
Science Education ◽  
Mental Models ◽  
Mental Model ◽  
Problem Based Learning ◽  
Water Conductivity ◽  
Education Change ◽  
Pbl Model

This paper tells about the mental model of prospective scholars on the topic of temperature and heat. The purpose of this research is to improve students’ mental model by using problem based learning (PBL) model. The number of samples in the study amounted to 72 students with two different classes. The results of the study showed that, (1) the improvement of mental model that studied with PBL was higher than that studied with conventional learning. (2) high-skilled student mental models that are learning with PBL are higher than those studied by conventional learning. (3) low-skilled student mental models that study with PBL are higher than students learning with conventional learning. The conclusion of this study is the improvement of students' mental models using PBL models on the topic of conductivity in water. Thus the PBL model can be recommended in improving students' mental models on temperature and heat topics. The implication in this research is to improve the students' mental model as the agent of science education change.

Man-Machine Systems: Information, Control, and Decision Models of Human Performance

1975 ◽  
Vol 88 (4) ◽  
pp. 703
Author(s):  
James K. Arima ◽  
Thomas B. Sheridan ◽  
William R. Ferrell
Keyword(s):  
Human Performance ◽  
Decision Models ◽  
Information Control ◽  
Machine Systems

scholarly journals How Influential Are Mental Models on Interaction Performance? Exploring the Gap between Users’ and Designers’ Mental Models through a New Quantitative Method

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bingjun Xie ◽  
Jia Zhou ◽  
Huilin Wang
Keyword(s):  
Mental Models ◽  
Mental Model ◽  
Quantitative Method ◽  
User Performance ◽  
Card Sorting ◽  
Information Structures ◽  
Path Diagram ◽  
New Perspective ◽  
Model Similarity ◽  
The Relationship

The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of the gap between two different mental models on interaction performance through a quantitative way. To achieve that, an index called mental model similarity and a new method called path diagram to elicit mental models were introduced. There are two kinds of similarity: directionless similarity calculated from card sorting and directional similarity calculated from path diagram. An experiment was designed to test their influence. A total of 32 college students participated and their performance was recorded. Through mathematical analysis of the results, three findings were derived. Frist, the more complex the information structures, the lower the directional similarity. Second, directional similarity (rather than directionless similarity) had significant influence on user performance, indicating that it is more effective in eliciting mental models using path diagram than card sorting. Third, the relationship between information structures and user performance was partially mediated by directional similarity. Our findings provide practitioners with a new perspective of bridging the gap between users’ and designers’ mental models.

Mental models, humorous texts and humour evaluation

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henri de Jongste
Keyword(s):  
Mental Models ◽  
Model Theory ◽  
Mental Model ◽  
Model Construction ◽  
Mental Model Theory ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Manipulation Process ◽  
The Way

Abstract This paper investigates how a mental-model theory of communication can explain differences in humorous texts and how aesthetic criteria to evaluate humour are dependent on the way mental models are exploited. Humour is defined as the deliberate manipulation by speakers of their private mental models of situations in order to create public mental models which contain one or more incongruities. Recipients can re-construct this manipulation process and thereby evaluate its nature and its quality. Humorous texts can be distinguished in terms of ownership of the manipulated mental model, the relationship between the speakers’ private and their public (humorous) mental model, as well as the speed required in the humorous mental model construction. Possible aesthetic criteria are the quality of the mental model manipulation, the pressure under which the humorously manipulated mental models have been constructed and the quality of the presentation of humorous mental models.

Mental Models

2011 ◽  
pp. 574-579
Author(s):  
Daniel Churchill
Keyword(s):  
Mental Models ◽  
Mental Model ◽  
Repeated Application ◽  
Internal Representations ◽  
The Mind ◽  
Mind's Eye ◽  
Cognitive Practice

It is widely assumed that mental models are internal representations. Humans are capable of constructing these models when required by demands of an external task or by a self-generated stimulus. “Mind’s eye” can see, run, and interact with these mental models. Rather than stored in strictly fixed form in the mind, mental models are constructed on the spot when needed. Repeated application leads to refinement of a mental model and possible automation of its construction and use processes in one’s cognitive practice.

The Effectiveness of Online Task Support vs. Instructor-Led Training

2011 ◽  
pp. 77-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ji-Ye Mao ◽  
Bradley R. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Mental Models ◽  
Mental Model ◽  
Performance Difference ◽  
Model Completeness ◽  
Task Support ◽  
Microsoft Access ◽  
Novice Users ◽  
The Difference ◽  
High Level ◽  
Level Performance

This study investigates the effectiveness of online task support (the wizard type in particular) relative to instructor-led training, and explores the underlying cognitive process in terms of the development of mental models. Ninety-two novice users of Microsoft Access were either trained by an experienced instructor or performed exercises with online task support, and then completed a variety of performance-based tests. Analysis shows that users of online task support tended to outperform instructor-trained individuals on high-level tasks, whereas the performance difference on low-level tasks was not significant. The cognitive processes underlying the difference are also noteworthy. Task support users were more likely to develop conceptual mental models as opposed to procedural ones, which accounted for their better high-level performance. Mental model completeness was also found to be closely associated with performance on both low and high-level tasks. These findings offer support for increased use of online task support.

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