Goal-Oriented Interaction

Question 1

Why do we want to provide a clear definition of the user’s goal?

Answer 1

Because we can then model their interaction with a user interface as a search process - searching for actions that will get them closer to that goal

Question 2

Describe the Cognitive Walkthrough evaluation method

Answer 2

1. Analyse the user interface by identifying the next user goal
2. Determine whether the necessary actions are available, ensuring they are labelled in a way so the user will recognise them
3. Confirm that the system will give appropriate feedback of progression toward the goal

Question 3

What is bounded rationality?

Answer 3

This is where rather than optimising strategies, users often engage in satisficing strategies, where they follow a plan that is satisfactory rather than optimal within constraints

Question 4

In which situations is a cognitive walkthrough appropriate?

Answer 4

Simple user interfaces in which there is an exact specification of what the user ought to do, and where their understanding of their goals is consistent with the designer’s view

Question 5

What is Prospect Theory?

Answer 5

Describes human behaviour in terms of a utility model that considers the outcome of possible actions, with weighting of estimated benefits by likelihood

Question 6

What does optimising search assume?

Answer 6

Complete knowledge of the state space

Question 7

What does Prospect Theory assume?

Answer 7

That people choose actions based on estimated utility

Question 8

Availability Heuristic

Answer 8

Reasoning is based on examples easily to hand

Question 9

Affect Heuristic

Answer 9

Basing decisions on emotion rather than calculating cost and benefit

Question 10

Which branch of economics are these heuristics the HCI version of?

Answer 10

Behavioural economics

Question 11

Representativeness Heuristic

Answer 11

Probability (ie. likelihood of this action) is judged based on resemblance to a class of similar situations

Question 12

What do these heuristics account for?

Answer 12

Patterns in human decision making that do not seem to be explained by optimised search

Question 13

List the 3 heuristics

Answer 13

1. Availability Heuristic
2. Affect Heuristic
3. Representativeness Heuristic

Question 14

List the 3 biases

Answer 14

1. Loss Aversion
2. Expectation Bias
3. Bandwagon Effect

Question 15

What is loss aversion?

Answer 15

That losses hurt more than gains feel good
(think about example from econ)

Question 16

What is expectation bias?

Answer 16

Other people observe results as they expected

Question 17

What is the bandwagon effect?

Answer 17

People prefer actions taken by other people

Question 18

What does the Attention Investment theory say?

Answer 18

It explains why users without prior programming experience may take decisions that favour repeated manual actions rather than automated shortcuts

Question 19

What is a wicked problem?

Answer 19

Class of problems that cannot be addressed with classical goal-based problem solving methods

Question 20

Give an example of a wicked problem

Answer 20

Slowing climate change

Question 21

List 3 characteristics of a wicked problem

Answer 21

1. There is no immediate and no ultimate test of a solution to a wicked problem
2. Solutions to wicked problems are not true-or-false, but good-or-bad
3. The planner has no right to be wrong

Question 22

What is persuasive design? When is it useful?

Answer 22

A field of HCI that considers how users might choose alternative goals or modify their goals. Useful in applications such as software systems to reduce energy consumption, promote exercise etc.

Question 23

What is a disadvantage of persuasive design?

Answer 23

If the strategy is recognised by users they may respond negatively to a design that is paternalistic/patronising

Question 24

How does persuasive design work?

Answer 24

Applies nudge methods to modify the biases that underlie inappropriate goals

Question 25

Give a limitation of goal-based HCI

Answer 25

Assume the user doesn't make mistakes which is unrealistic

Question 26

Why might a user make an error?

Answer 26

1. Information loss due to cognitive limitations 2. Incorrect mental models 3. Inappropriate biases 4. Misleading designs

Question 27

Give an example of an abstract specification

Answer 27

Defining a regular expression for search and replace

Question 28

What is the advantage of automation?

Answer 28

Saving time and concentration in the future

Question 29

What is the disadvantage of automation?

Answer 29

Abstract specification and programming to create the automation takes time and concentration. Risk of bugs that might result in the automated solution going wrong and more manual effort to fix the consequencesW

Question 30

What does a user's utility function compare when deciding whether to use automated shortcuts?

Answer 30

Future saving of attention vs cost of concentrating on a risky strategy

Question 31

Which biases will apply when a user is deciding whether to use automated shortcuts?

Answer 31

Loss aversion and bounded rationality since deciding what to do takes even more concentration

Question 32

How will users behave when they have minimal concentration? Give an example

Answer 32

Routine computer use is carried out on the basis of memorised patterns of interaction with no clear underlying mental model or goal Eg. repeatedly pressing the clear button on a calculator

Question 33

What is an abstract specification?

Answer 33

A formal description of what a system or component should do, without specifying how it should be implemented

Question 34

What are nudge methods? Give an example

Answer 34

A way to subtly influence decision-making by altering the way choices are presented, without restricting freedom of choice. Eg. making the Yes button very big and colouring it green, and making the No button very small and unappealing

Question 35

What is a utility function?

Answer 35

A mathematical function which ranks alternative actions according to their utility to an individual