Discrimination between Functions in Tables and Graphs

Abstract

An experiment assessed the relative efficiency of tables and graphs for the discrimination between two system states, indicated by different frequencies of sine functions, in a simulated process. Graphic displays allowed significantly better discrimination than tables. The interval between the feed back for one trial and the beginning of the next trial affected performance for both displays. In graphs rapid learning occurred for all durations of the interval, but when the interval was 0 seconds the initial performance was lower than when the interval was 2 or 6 seconds. For tables only the 6 seconds interval showed faster learning than the other conditions, but performance was still much lower than for graphs. The results lend support to the claim that graphic displays are of advantage when the displayed data has structure and when the task relies on this structure.

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