Children and Adults Working Together in the Zone of Proximal Development: A Concept for User-Centered Design

Author(s):  
Leanne Bowler ◽  
Andrew Large ◽  
Jamshid Beheshti ◽  
Valerie Nesset

This paper explores the theory of a zone of proximal development from the perspective of usability research and user-centered approaches to the design of information retrieval systems. Using concrete examples (dialogue, tools and techniques) from the inter-generational design teams of Large et al, this study will show how structuring usability research around Vygotsky’s theory of a zone of proximal development can offer a robust conceptual framework for eliciting responses from children on information retrieval issues and for defining the role that children can play in the design process.Cet article présente la théorie de la zone prochaine de développement à partir de la perspective de la convivialité de la recherche et des approches orientées utilisateurs pour la conception de systèmes de recherche d’information. Utilisant des exemples concrets (dialogue, outils et techniques) tirés des équipes de conception intergénérationnelles de Large et al., cette étude démontrera comment la structuration de la convivialité de la recherche autour de la théorie de la zone prochaine de développement de Vygotsky peut offrir une cadre … 

1967 ◽  
Vol 06 (02) ◽  
pp. 45-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Kent ◽  
J. Belzer ◽  
M. Kuhfeerst ◽  
E. D. Dym ◽  
D. L. Shirey ◽  
...  

An experiment is described which attempts to derive quantitative indicators regarding the potential relevance predictability of the intermediate stimuli used to represent documents in information retrieval systems. In effect, since the decision to peruse an entire document is often predicated upon the examination of one »level of processing« of the document (e.g., the citation and/or abstract), it became interesting to analyze the properties of what constitutes »relevance«. However, prior to such an analysis, an even more elementary step had to be made, namely, to determine what portions of a document should be examined.An evaluation of the ability of intermediate response products (IRPs), functioning as cues to the information content of full documents, to predict the relevance determination that would be subsequently made on these documents by motivated users of information retrieval systems, was made under controlled experimental conditions. The hypothesis that there might be other intermediate response products (selected extracts from the document, i.e., first paragraph, last paragraph, and the combination of first and last paragraph), that would be as representative of the full document as the traditional IRPs (citation and abstract) was tested systematically. The results showed that:1. there is no significant difference among the several IRP treatment groups on the number of cue evaluations of relevancy which match the subsequent user relevancy decision on the document;2. first and last paragraph combinations have consistently predicted relevancy to a higher degree than the other IRPs;3. abstracts were undistinguished as predictors; and4. the apparent high predictability rating for citations was not substantive.Some of these results are quite different than would be expected from previous work with unmotivated subjects.


2005 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 335-346
Author(s):  
Por Carlos Benito Amat ◽  
Por Carlos Benito Amat

Libri ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 227-237
Author(s):  
Mahdi Zeynali-Tazehkandi ◽  
Mohsen Nowkarizi

AbstractEvaluation of information retrieval systems is a fundamental topic in Library and Information Science. The aim of this paper is to connect the system-oriented and the user-oriented approaches to relevant philosophical schools. By reviewing the related literature, it was found that the evaluation of information retrieval systems is successful if it benefits from both system-oriented and user-oriented approaches (composite). The system-oriented approach is rooted in Parmenides’ philosophy of stability (immovable) which Plato accepts and attributes to the world of forms; the user-oriented approach is rooted in Heraclitus’ flux philosophy (motion) which Plato defers and attributes to the tangible world. Thus, using Plato’s theory is a comprehensive approach for recognizing the concept of relevance. The theoretical and philosophical foundations determine the type of research methods and techniques. Therefore, Plato’s dialectical method is an appropriate composite method for evaluating information retrieval systems.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document