Psychology of Everyday Actions

2 Projector Story DOET page 45

3 Seven Stages of Action Model 1.Goal 2.Intentions 3.Specifying a sequence of actions 4.Physical execution of actions 5.Perceiving the state of the world 6.Interpreting the state of the world 7.Evaluating outcome

4 1 Goal What to achieve –Get something to eat

5 2 Intentions Intentions to act to achieve the goal –Cook dal and rice –Order a pizza –Go to a restaurant – Goals are not specific Intentions are specific enough actions

6 3 Specifying a Sequence of Actions Actions achieve the intention (and the goal) –Clean and wash rice and dal –Put cooker on the stove –Cook dal and rice… The intentions dont specify how to do an action Novices form intentions, but only experienced users can specify a sequence of actions –I want to go to the Gateway of India. –Go to Kanjur Marg. Take a train to CST. Walk out, take a left. Walk till the road ends

7 4 Physical Execution of Actions Having decided, one needs to execute the plan –Clean and wash rice and dal –Put cooker on the stove –Cook dal and rice –Do the unspecified bits –Deal with hiccups… Specifying what to do needs experience –Coach, director, designer, architect, car owner But actually doing it needs skill and ability –Sportsman, actress, illustrator, carpenter, mechanic

8 Execution 1.Goal 2.Intentions 3.Specifying a sequence of actions 4.Physical execution of actions 5.Perceiving the state of the world 6.Interpreting the state of the world 7.Evaluating outcome

9 5 Perceiving the State of the World Keep an eye on whats happening –Is the toast golden brown? –Did the cooker whistle thrice? –What is that strange noise in the mixer? –Does it smell like gas? –Is it getting late? –Whats the score? Look out for the expected, and the unexpected –Routine items, comparisons, changes, results, errors –Informing, bringing to attention, alerting, warning

10 6 Interpreting the State of the World Make sense of the inputs –The toast is getting real crisp now –The rice and dal are cooked –Need to get the mixer serviced –The gas is leaking –Food might not be ready before its time to go –The asking rate is climbing, we may loose the match Needs proper feedback and hands-on experience –Communicating the right conceptual model –Defragmentation of hard disks, system restore in XP, battery charge discharge cycles, network trouble –Not just reading dialog boxes, but interpreting

11 7 Evaluating the Outcome Compare with the goals, did we get what we wanted? –I can now eat –Food is good, but next time we should order a pizza –I can live without chutney –O my God!!! –Lets bunk lectures today –Our cricket team is going to the dogs – Back to higher level of thinking –How did the task connect to the goal?

12 Evaluation 1.Goal 2.Intentions 3.Specifying a sequence of actions 4.Physical execution of actions 5.Perceiving the state of the world 6.Interpreting the state of the world 7.Evaluating outcome

13 About This Model Model –It is only an approximation Levels of goals –Goals are nested, higher level goals have sub-goals –There are many feedback loops Parallel and sequential –Execution and evaluation is happening all the time –General to specific to general

14 Gulf of Execution The difference between the specified sequence of actions (or earlier steps) and physical execution –Answering machine Execution –Goal –Intentions –Specifying a sequence of actions –Physical execution of actions

15 Implications to Design 1.Goal –User goals (life, experience, end), Buyer goals –Business goals, technical goals –Provide high level solutions 2.Intentions (Tally, refrigerator) –Clarify conceptual model to help form intentions 3.Specifying a sequence of actions (ans. machine) –Optimize work flow and action sequences –Provide hints and memory cues 4.Physical execution of actions (Devnagari typing) –Design of the micro interface

16 Gulf of Evaluation The difference between the interpreted state of the world and the actual state of the world –Starting trouble in a two wheeler Evaluation –Perceiving the state of the world –Interpreting the state of the world –Evaluating outcome

17 Implications to Design 5.Perceiving the state of the world (two wheeler) Continuous and proper feedback 6.Interpreting the state of the world (% bar in IE) Clear conceptual model Identifying real problems 7.Evaluating outcome Comparison with goals