| Externalization vs. Internalization: The Influence on Problem Solving Performance (2004) | |||||||||||||
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| Externalization Internalization The influence problem solving performance Christof van Nimwegen christof Herre van Oostendorp herre Hermina Tabachneck Schijf hermi Institute Information and Computing Sciences Utrecht University Padualaan Utrecht The Netherlands Abstract This research investigates how externalizing information program interfaces influences problem solving performance Externalization screen representation provides relevant interface feedback and remembering certain task related knowledge becomes unnecessary relieving working memory Examples are visual feedback aids such graying out non applicable menu items Differently when certain task related information unavailable needs internalized stored examined the hypotheses that externalization yields better performance during initial learning while later internalization yields better performance and knowledge Two versions internalized externalized isomorph the missionaries and cannibals problem were tested subjects solved problems then performed distraction task erasing and solved more problems Also knowledge the problem rules and states was tested Internalization yielded better knowledge and reaching less dead end problem states Time needed steps and error rates were the expected direction but not significantly This research contributes GUI design guidelines for human computer interaction problem solving tasks Introduction Software has seen tremendous development during the last decades Becoming more advanced the am | |||||||||||||
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