What's in a name? The role of graphics, functions, and their interrelationships in icon identification

Authors: McDougall, S. and Isherwood, S.

Journal: Behavior Research Methods

Volume: 41

Issue: 2

Pages: 325-336

ISSN: 1554-351X

DOI: 10.3758/BRM.41.2.325

Abstract:

Communication using icons is now commonplace. It is therefore important to understand the processes involved in icon comprehension and the stimulus cues that individuals utilize to facilitate identification. In this study, we examined predictors of icon identification as participants gained experience with icons over a series of learning trials. A dynamic pattern of findings emerged in which the primary predictors of identification changed as learning progressed. In early learning trials, semantic distance (the closeness of the relationship between icon and function) was the best predictor of performance, accounting for up to 55% of the variance observed, whereas familiarity with the function was more important in later trials. Other stimulus characteristics, such as our familiarity with the graphic in the icon and its concreteness, were also found to be important for icon design. The theoretical implications of these findings are discussed, with particular emphasis on the parallels with picture naming. The icon identification norms from this study may be downloaded from brm.psychonomic-journals.org/content/supplemental. © 2009 The Psychonomic Society, Inc.

Source: Scopus

What's in a name? The role of graphics, functions, and their interrelationships in icon identification.

Authors: McDougall, S. and Isherwood, S.

Journal: Behav Res Methods

Volume: 41

Issue: 2

Pages: 325-336

ISSN: 1554-351X

DOI: 10.3758/BRM.41.2.325

Abstract:

Communication using icons is now commonplace. It is therefore important to understand the processes involved in icon comprehension and the stimulus cues that individuals utilize to facilitate identification. In this study, we examined predictors of icon identification as participants gained experience with icons over a series of learning trials. A dynamic pattern of findings emerged in which the primary predictors of identification changed as learning progressed. In early learning trials, semantic distance (the closeness of the relationship between icon and function) was the best predictor of performance, accounting for up to 55% of the variance observed, whereas familiarity with the function was more important in later trials. Other stimulus characteristics, such as our familiarity with the graphic in the icon and its concreteness, were also found to be important for icon design. The theoretical implications of these findings are discussed, with particular emphasis on the parallels with picture naming. The icon identification norms from this study may be downloaded from brm.psychonomic-journals.org/content/supplemental.

Source: PubMed

What's in a name? The role of graphics, functions, and their interrelationships in icon identification

Authors: McDougall, S. and Isherwood, S.

Journal: BEHAVIOR RESEARCH METHODS

Volume: 41

Issue: 2

Pages: 325-336

eISSN: 1554-3528

ISSN: 1554-351X

DOI: 10.3758/BRM.41.2.325

Source: Web of Science (Lite)

What's in a name? The role of graphics, functions and their interrelationships in icon identification

Authors: McDougall, S. and Isherwood, S.

Journal: Behavior Research Methods

Volume: 41

Pages: 325-336

DOI: 10.3758/BRM.41.2.325

Abstract:

Communication using icons is now commonplace. It is therefore important to understand the processes involved in icon comprehension and the stimulus cues that individuals utilize to facilitate identification. In this study, we examined predictors of icon identification as participants gained experience with icons over a series of learning trials. A dynamic pattern of findings emerged in which the primary predictors of identification changed as learning progressed. In early learning trials, semantic distance (the closeness of the relationship between icon and function) was the best predictor of performance, accounting for up to 55% of the variance observed, whereas familiarity with the function was more important in later trials. Other stimulus characteristics, such as our familiarity with the graphic in the icon and its concreteness, were also found to be important for icon design. The theoretical implications of these findings are discussed, with particular emphasis on the parallels with picture naming. The icon identification norms from this study may be downloaded from brm.psychonomic-journals.org/content/supplemental.

Source: Manual

Preferred by: Sine McDougall

What's in a name? The role of graphics, functions, and their interrelationships in icon identification.

Authors: McDougall, S. and Isherwood, S.

Journal: Behavior research methods

Volume: 41

Issue: 2

Pages: 325-336

eISSN: 1554-3528

ISSN: 1554-351X

DOI: 10.3758/brm.41.2.325

Abstract:

Communication using icons is now commonplace. It is therefore important to understand the processes involved in icon comprehension and the stimulus cues that individuals utilize to facilitate identification. In this study, we examined predictors of icon identification as participants gained experience with icons over a series of learning trials. A dynamic pattern of findings emerged in which the primary predictors of identification changed as learning progressed. In early learning trials, semantic distance (the closeness of the relationship between icon and function) was the best predictor of performance, accounting for up to 55% of the variance observed, whereas familiarity with the function was more important in later trials. Other stimulus characteristics, such as our familiarity with the graphic in the icon and its concreteness, were also found to be important for icon design. The theoretical implications of these findings are discussed, with particular emphasis on the parallels with picture naming. The icon identification norms from this study may be downloaded from brm.psychonomic-journals.org/content/supplemental.

Source: Europe PubMed Central