Validation of User Models for Interactive Editing

Abstract

Although interactive computer editors are an integral part of today's growing computer systems, their design is often determined by tradition or designer intuition, rather than empirical evidence of what is best for the user. In a previous study, Folley and Williges derived naive and expert user models by use of a clustering algorithm. This study tested these models in an actual interactive editing environment. Analysis of variance results showed that subjects did not perform significantly better on the appropriate model editor. A cluster analysis showed low agreement between subjects and with the original models. Differences in command frequency counts between the paper-pencil and interactive editing environments suggest that deeper aspects of interactive editing, such as mode change and current line location, must be included in the user models. It is suggested that interactive editors will more closely conform to user models as they more closely simulate the paper-pencil editing environment.