An Eye-Tracking Study of Exploitations of Spatial Constraints in Diagrammatic Reasoning

Autor/inn/en	Shimojima, Atsushi; Katagiri, Yasuhiro
Titel	An Eye-Tracking Study of Exploitations of Spatial Constraints in Diagrammatic Reasoning
Quelle	In: Cognitive Science, 37 (2013) 2, S.211-254 (44 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0364-0213
DOI	10.1111/cogs.12026
Schlagwörter	Eye Movements; Spatial Ability; Visual Aids; Inferences; Problem Solving; Theories; Cognitive Processes; Semantics; Undergraduate Students; Foreign Countries; Japan + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Augenbewegung; Räumliches Vorstellungsvermögen; Anschauungsmaterial; Inference; Inferenz; Problemlösen; Theory; Theorie; Cognitive process; Kognitiver Prozess; Semantik; Ausland
Abstract	Semantic studies on diagrammatic notations (Barwise & Etchemendy,; Shimojima,; Stenning & Lemon, ) have revealed that the "non-deductive," "emergent," or "perceptual" effects of diagrams (Chandrasekaran, Kurup, Banerjee, Josephson, & Winkler,; Kulpa,; Larkin & Simon,; Lindsay, ) are all rooted in the exploitation of spatial constraints on graphical structures. Thus, theoretically, this process is a key factor in inference with diagrams, explaining the frequently observed reduction of inferential load. The purpose of this study was to examine the empirical basis for this theoretical suggestion, focusing on the reality of the constraint-exploitation strategy in actual practices of diagrammatic reasoning. Eye movements were recorded while participants used simple position diagrams to solve three- or four-term transitive inference problems. Our experiments revealed that the participants could exploit spatial constraints on graphical structures even when (a) they were not in the position of actually manipulating diagrams, (b) the semantic rule for the provided diagrams did not match their preferences, and (c) the constraint-exploitation strategy invited a partly adverse effect. These findings indicate that the hypothesized process is in fact robust, with the potential to broadly account for the inferential advantage of diagrams. (Contains 17 figures, 3 tables, and 5 notes.) (As Provided).
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Update	2017/4/10