The Cognitive Perspective in Information Science Research Anthony Hughes
Kristina Spurgin
Cognition
“Illumynyd she is wyth clere cognycyoun In hyr soule” -Osbern Bokenham Seyntys, 1447 (L.154)
Cognition The understanding, acquisition, and processing of
knowledge, or, more loosely, thought processes.
Cognitive Science
Cognitive science Kinds of knowledge underlying cognition Details of cognitive processing Computational modeling of these processes
Computers + Psychology + Linguistics = Cognitive Science!
General Topic Areas in Cognitive Science
Perception Thinking Learning Knowledge
representation Language
Perception Stimuli simple perceptual objects Matching of simple perceptual objects to
stored representations of objects Visual processing and imagery
Applications in LIS:
Human Computer Interaction
Thinking Reasoning Problem solving Decision-making
Applications in LIS:
Information seeking Relevance judgments Information literacy training Think-aloud research methods
Learning Machine and human learning Psychology and representations of learning Memory
Encoding and retrieval
Applications in LIS:
Information retrieval User studies Bibliographic instruction and reference work
Knowledge Representation Methods by which information is stored in the
mind for later use Understanding, designing, and implementing
representations of information in computers
Applications in LIS:
Taxonomy Thesauri Classification schemes Ontologies
Language The relationship between language and cognition Rules of language and their processing
Syntax, semantics, and pragmatics Language acquisition and comprehension
Applications in LIS:
Natural Language Processing Latent semantic indexing Controlled vocabulary development Information extraction
Measures of Cognition - Quantitative Cognitive ability
Absolute judgments of stimuli Cognitive style
Embedded Figures Test (field dependence vs. field independence)
Cognitive Styles Analysis (holistic vs. analytical cognitive style)
Cognitive Style Index (intuitive vs. analytic cognitive style)
Measures of Cognition - Quantitative Cognitive space
Stimulus pairing Linguistic Spatial
Measures of Cognition - Qualitative Concept mapping Think-aloud or verbal protocol Card sorting Free-listing
Readings
Theory Research
Ingwersen Todd Kim & Allen
Cognitive & Information Science as it was applied in the readings:
Cognitive and Task Influences on Web Searching Behavior (Kim & Allen) Independent Variables (across both studies)
Cognitive style (field dependence vs. independence) Problem solving ability/style Search engine used Cognitive ability (perceptual speed, spatial scanning, logical reasoning Task
Dependent Variables (across both studies) Search performance/outcome (precision/recall) Search activities (mouseclicks, links followed etc…)
Findings (across both studies) Task had main interaction effect across studies Cognitive ability and problem solving style interacted with task effect to influence
search activity Questions:
Do you agree with the way cognitive science measures were applied in this study? If task if main determinent, how do we design systems that support breadth of
searchers and their tasks?
Back to our beginnings…(R. Todd) Information utilization
acting/doing thinking/acting/doing
Cognitive + Behavioral change Measurement
Instrumental + symbolic Conceptual: “…what is happening in people’s minds when they do something with information.”
Bertram Brookes K[S] + ∆I = K[S + ∆S]
Study Change in knowledge states regarding heroin
Initial knowledge map Exposure to information Successive mapping and exposure
Findings Complete picture / changed picture / clearer picture / verified picture / position in
picture Questions
Is this empirical research? Can we hope to measure cognitive change?
Cognitive Information Retrieval (Ingwersen, P.)
See Figure Questions
Where does cognitive science fit within this picture? What does it have to add?
Is the holistic cognitive view of IR a theory? Where does the role of affect or emotion fit within this
theory?
User Intermediary System
Individual view of IR cognition
Holistic view of IR cognition
Human Human or System
Communication through information processing
Cognitive Free Fall
ASKLabel-Effect
User’s cognitivespace
Problem /Situation
Socio-organizationenvironment
Task
User’s cognitivespace
IntermediaryCogntition
InterfaceFunctionality Algorithms
SystemStructure
s
Representations
Informationobjects
InformationNeed
Polyrepresentation
FeedbackQuery Expansion
Work Task
From: Wilson, T.D. (1999) Models of Information Behaviour Research. Journal of Documentation, vol.55(3) pg. 249-270
Model of Ingwersen’s IR process
Top Related