Learning to Operate Complex Devices: Effects of Conceptual and Operational Similarity

Abstract

In two experiments we investigated the effect of prior knowledge of a given device on learning to operate a similar device. Two kinds of similarity were investigated: conceptual similarity, in which the underlying concepts of how the devices worked were the same, and operational similarity, in which the organization and structure of the operating procedure were the same. Experiment 1 used devices that were always physically the same, regardless of how they were described and the procedure used to operate them. Experiment 2 used devices that were always physically different but required the same logical sequence of steps. In both experiments there were substantial effects of operational similarity but no reliable effect of conceptual similarity. It was concluded that prior experience with similar devices often helps because similar devices have similar operating procedures, not because similar devices work similarly.