Psychology: memory

Overview

• An understanding of human memory is critical to an appreciation of how users will store and use relevant information when using an application, system or website.

• If you want people to like and use your system, then you need to know their needs and preferences, what makes them tick and how to research these issues.

• Ben Shneiderman (2002): ‘The old computing was about what computers could do; the new computing is about what users can do.’

Introduction

• We concentrate on understanding the psychology of human memory as a basis for developing a truly user-centered approach to interactive designs.

• It’s about how we develop good ideas and insights into what users want.

Introduction

• Cognitive psychology was the concept of the human mind as a processor of information.

• This view, although simple, unlocked the door to ways of tackling questions of how people perceive, retain and use information to perform mental or cognitive tasks.

Introduction

• Model Human Process theory seeks to specify the information-processing demands on and of users.

• The aim is to:– Design systems that are compatible with their

users– Evaluate existing systems and their variants– Make quantitative predictions about their use

Psychology - memory

• We’ll be looking at users and at some basic psychological theory that will help make sense of how humans behave, particularly when using interactive systems.

– Freud and psychoanalysis– Behaviorism– Neuropsychology

Cognitive Psychology

Cognitive psychology builds upon the strengths of each of the these

approaches:• Freud: it accepts the complexity of human cognition and the need to

consider a combination of cognition, emotion and drives.

• Behaviorism: it looks at the input and output, emphasizing an objective and impartial scientific approach.

• AI: which is based upon early computer simulation work, it seeks to understand human cognition by building computer programs that appear to respond like people.

• Phenomenology: it emphasizes people’s subjective experiences and seeks to relate existing behavior and experience.

The Model Human Processor

Perception

Response

CognitiveProcessing

Long-term memory

Short-term memory

Working Memory Limit

• 10 – 20 seconds of decay time

• Can hold 7 + 2 items

• An item can be a chuck of information: word, letter, a meaningful sentence, etc.

38503

291473

9206871

82K51Z04

2DU5M20

9RP4E07

Long-Term Memory

• LT Memory is organized as a network of ‘chucks’ of knowledge.

LT Memory Practical Rules:• Supports recognition rather than recall• Reduce working memory load• Support the production of chunks of items to

facilitate memory• Frequent activities become ‘automatic’ and so

don’t require conscious attention

Simplex One Model

ProcessingSystem

AbstractWorkingMemory

Long-termassociative

store

Inputstore

MotorOutputstore

Simplex Two Model

ProcessingSystem

AbstractWorkingMemory

Long-termassociative

store

Inputstore

MotorOutputstore

EmotionsAnd

Drives

CognitiveModel

Construction

FeedbackManagement

Zone

OutputProgram

Zone