TY - JOUR
T1 - An alternative Fit through Problem Representation in Cognitive Fit Theory
AU - Chan, Hock Chuan
AU - Goswami, Suparna
AU - Kim, Hee Woong
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2012 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2012/4
Y1 - 2012/4
N2 - This paper uses cognitive fit theory to analyze the problem solving process in spreadsheet analyses. Cognitive fit theory proposes the formation of mental representation as a part of the problem solving process. However, there is little research examining mental representation, which is a key concept in cognitive fit theory. This study examines the formation of mental representation and proposes an alternative mechanism of cognitive fit between different problem representations and their corresponding mental representations when the task is invariant, but the problem representation changes. Mental representation is then empirically assessed based on the application of Hick's law, which states that the response time of users making a choice varies with the logarithm of the number of possible choices. Therefore, this study contributes to research on cognitive fit theory by proposing an alternative fit and by demonstrating a feasible approach for identifying mental representations. It contributes to spreadsheet research by showing how problem representations affect task performance in the case of spreadsheet error correction.
AB - This paper uses cognitive fit theory to analyze the problem solving process in spreadsheet analyses. Cognitive fit theory proposes the formation of mental representation as a part of the problem solving process. However, there is little research examining mental representation, which is a key concept in cognitive fit theory. This study examines the formation of mental representation and proposes an alternative mechanism of cognitive fit between different problem representations and their corresponding mental representations when the task is invariant, but the problem representation changes. Mental representation is then empirically assessed based on the application of Hick's law, which states that the response time of users making a choice varies with the logarithm of the number of possible choices. Therefore, this study contributes to research on cognitive fit theory by proposing an alternative fit and by demonstrating a feasible approach for identifying mental representations. It contributes to spreadsheet research by showing how problem representations affect task performance in the case of spreadsheet error correction.
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U2 - 10.4018/jdm.2012040102
DO - 10.4018/jdm.2012040102
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84868130896
VL - 23
SP - 22
EP - 43
JO - Journal of Database Management
JF - Journal of Database Management
SN - 1063-8016
IS - 2
ER -