Abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate individual differences in cognitive styles related to spatial ability in order design computer interfaces which accommodated low spatial users. Seventy-four subjects were tested on spatial, visual and verbal cognitive tests. From the results of these tests, (12) subjects were selected and classified as low spatial/verbalizers and (12) as high spatial/visualizers. The two subject groups were tested on three interface designs: a graphical layout and an outline format, both intended to accommodate low spatial users, and a conventional hierarchical menu design. For each interface, the subjects completed (50) information search tasks. Duncan's Multiple Range comparisons (p<0.05) between the three interface designs indicated the following: in accordance with past studies, the performance of verbal subjects was 18% inferior to that of spatial subjects on the conventional interface which required subjects to self-induce the hierarchical system structure; by designing a graphical interface which provided the system structure and an interface with an outline format which eliminated the need for structuring, no differences were detected between the verbal and spatial groups. The implication was that the influences of individual differences in spatial ability on computer performance can be overcome by cognitively tailored interface designs.

Keywords: Command line; Design; Empirical studies; Individual differences: spatial/verbal ability; Menu; Models and theories; Screen output; Spatial/verbal ability

Originally published: Proceedings of the Human Factors Society 36th Annual Meeting, 1992, pp. 902-906

Republished: G. Perlman, G. K. Green, & M. S. Wogalter (Eds.) Human Factors Perspectives on Human-Computer Interaction: Selections from Proceedings of Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meetings, 1983-1994, Santa Monica, CA: HFES, 1995, pp. 306-310.