Graham Dean

Measuring the speed of the conscious components of recognition memory: remembering is faster than knowing

Three experiments investigated response times (RTs) for remember and know responses in recognition memory. RTs to remember responses were faster than RTs to know responses, regardless of whether the remember-know decision was preceded by an old/new decision (two-step procedure) or was made without a preceding old/new decision (one-step procedure). The finding of faster RTs for R responses was also found when remember-know decisions were made retrospectively. These findings are inconsistent with dual-process models of recognition memory, which predict that recollection is slower and more effortful than familiarity. Word frequency did not influence RTs, but remember responses were faster for words than for nonwords. We argue that the difference in RTs to remember and know responses reflects the time taken to make old/new decisions on the basis of the type of information activated at test.

The relationship between self reports of imagery and spatial ability

A puzzling question arising from imagery research is why no relationship has been found between self-reports of imagery and performance on spatial tests thought to require the use of imagery. To investigate this, spatial ability, measured by performance on two spatial tests, was compared with performance on the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire (VVIQ; Marks, 1973) and a newly constructed imagery questionnaire. The choice of items and ratings for the new questionnaire was based on Kosslyns (1980, 1994) theories of the imagery system. Ratings on the new questionnaire consistently correlated significantly with performance on the spatial tests, whereas ratings from the VVIQ did not. The new ratings captured more of the imagery process than ratings of vividness alone, but the largest change depended upon the type of item imagined. Ratings of items of the same type as used on the spatial tests predicted performance on the spatial tests, whereas vividness ratings of items recalled or constructed from long-term memory did not. Participants can successfully introspect on several different properties of their images, and their ratings do predict performance on tasks thought to require imagery. The large effect of item type raises questions about the predictive value of existing models of the imagery system especially in relation to the role of phenomenological properties of our images.

Selective interference with the use of visual images in the symbolic distance paradigm.

Eight experiments investigated the effects of visual, spatial, auditory, and executive interference on the symbolic comparison of animal size and ferocity, semantic goodness of words, and numbers. Dynamic visual noise (DVN) and the reading of visually presented stimulus items were shown to selectively interfere with response times on the animal size comparison task, though the slope of the symbolic distance function remained unchanged. Increased change of DVN significantly increased interference, but interference was reduced by equiluminant DVN. Spatial tracking reduced the slope of the symbolic distance function in contrast to an executive task that only increased mean latency and errors for all comparisons. Results suggest that the generation of an image is necessary for size comparison, but neither imagery nor executive function is responsible for the frequently observed distance-time function.

PCL: a language for modelling evolving system architectures

The paper describes a language called PCL (Proteus Configuration Language), which has been designed to model the architecture of multiple versions of computer-based systems (system families). PCL has evolved from module interconnection languages, and its novel features include the ability to model the variability between members of a system family and facilities for the integrated modelling of hardware, software and documentation structures. The features of PCL are illustrated using a number of simple examples. A supporting toolset for PCL has been implemented and is briefly described

Chapter 22 Imagery and spatial ability: When introspective reports predict performance

Publisher Summary This chapter attempts to take an initial step in constructing an introspective measure of imagery ability based on present theories and findings on the structure of the imagery system; one that will be of practical use in investigating the role of imagery in cognition. Two factors were considered in the construction of the questionnaire: the items and dimensions rated. Five items were selected that were either the same as or very similar to the type of items used in the five spatial tests with which the questionnaire was to be compared. The presentation of these items was also in a similar style to that of the items on the spatial tests. A variety of ratings was made for each item imagined. These were of two kinds, ratings of the subjective ease of a hypothesized process and ratings of pictorial aspects of an image that could reflect underlying processes either on their own or by interaction with each other. Throughout the questionnaire, the type of transformation required was of a single type, image rotation.

Distributed systems management as a group activity

It is important to consider systems management as part of a whole organizational management strategy, and, as such, to be aware of the impact of people on management. Within a flexible management framework we bring people within the terms of reference associated with systems management.<<ETX>>

Running the network : supporting co-operative systems

Commercial software systems intended to support the work of groups are now freely available. However, uptake of these systems has been relatively poor and limited user experience has been reported. Presents some experiences from a study of a network that explicitly aims to investigate the effectiveness of computer‐supported co‐operative work (CSCW) tools. Focuses on the currently hidden cost of managing the network. Also explores the implications for CSCW systems development by outlining an exploration of support for the management of a CSCW network.

Collective spaces and collected action: towards reconnecting food, consumers and nature

Disconnection between food production, its consumers and in turn between consumers and nature is increasingly seen as problematic for both producers and society at large. Consumers now know very little about where their food has come from, leading potentially to less sustainable practices and less engagement with what they eat and drink. We present the concept of reconnecting food (in this particular example, coffee) and consumers through design interventions in the High Street, employing digital innovations based on concepts from the Internet of Things and pervasive public displays. Two interventions carried out within the setting of J. Atkinson & Co. coffee and tea merchants in Lancaster City are discussed. We document the research processes, interaction design and their implementation in relation to notions of reconnecting products and consumers. Future interventions within the setting are also presented in order to demonstrate the on-going dialogue between researchers and retailers. We show that through exploring reconnection through storytelling within a retail environment there is potential to tackle the issues raised in the paper and engage with retailers and consumers.