Cognitive Design

A major challenge in cognitive design is modeling psychological (thinking, affective, motivational, volitional) processes, structures and content. To design for cognition you must understand how it is working (or not) within the groups and artifacts of interest.  

It is best to start any modeling effort with a context diagram and drive down on various components using specific techniques until you have the information you need.  I illustrate one way to do this with the cognition at work template in a brief slide presentation.  

Recently, I have been experimenting with a new technique, the macrocognitive modeling procedure (MMP) developed by  researchers at the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition.  

Macrocognition looks at the large-scale aspects of cognition that are goal oriented (e.g. making a decision and planning) versus techniques that focus on the more micro oriented details of  cause and effect relationships between specific types of mental states, memory, perceptions and so on. 

In part two of an article on Influencing versus Informing Design, the researchers introduce the MMP as a simple but useful 3-step methodology. The approach is based on a template for expert reasoning shown below.  

                            [Click on the image for a better view] 

To get started you use the template to develop bogus models (more specific versions of the template representing your best guess) and show them to domain practitioners at various skill levels.  You ask the domain practitioners to pick the best bogus model and develop one of their own. From this you synthesize a working model and validate and refine it by making observations and asking probe questions during practice. 

If you decide to try it out please let me know how it works. I have used it on three small projects with good results. 

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 19th, 2009 at 8:02 am and is filed under Technique. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.