BALL, L J and EVANS, J S T and DENNIS, I (1994) Cognitive processes in engineering design:a longitudinal study. Ergonomics, 37 (11). pp. 1753-1786. ISSN 1366-5847
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
In this paper we report an empirical study of the cognitive processes of semi-expert electronics engineers pursuing real-world design projects. Extensive diary and interview data were analysed so as to reveal the organization of on-going design activity and the goals that were motivating behaviour. Our analyses indicated that subjects were implementing a highly systematic design strategy which deviated only a small amount (12%) from a top-down, depth-first procedure. Some of this deviation could be accounted for by social demands impinging on the individual designer, and whilst there was also evidence of 'opportunistic' deviation from a structured design approach, this did not appear to be a significant feature of our subjects' behaviour. We present a model of the design process as a set of production rules which describe an abstract 'design schema' for electronic engineering. This design schema embodies processes which control and co-ordinate problem-understanding and problem-structuring activity as well as the essentially top-down, depth-first pursuit of design solutions. The schema also allows for flexibility in the design process, permitting subjects to cope with contingencies arising through social influences and performance breakdowns. A further aspect of the design schema is that it encapsulates a 'satisficing' procedure which reflects a principle that dominated our engineers' solution-search and evaluation activity - they characteristically focused exclusively on initial, satisfactory (but usually sub-optimal) solution concepts rather than comparing alternatives with the aim of optimizing choices. We conclude our discussion by recommending facilities that we feel computer-based design aids should offer users if they are to be genuinely useful adjuncts to design activity.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Journal or Publication Title: | Ergonomics |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | ENGINEERING DESIGN ; COGNITIVE PROCESSES ; PSYCHOLOGICAL MODEL ; COMPUTER-AIDED DESIGN |
| Subjects: | UNSPECIFIED |
| Departments: | Faculty of Science and Technology > Psychology |
| ID Code: | 52066 |
| Deposited By: | ep_importer_pure |
| Deposited On: | 16 Dec 2011 13:32 |
| Refereed?: | Yes |
| Published?: | Published |
| Last Modified: | 26 Jul 2012 20:00 |
| Identification Number: | |
| URI: | http://eprints.lancs.ac.uk/id/eprint/52066 |
Actions (login required)
| View Item |
