Showing papers by "Jacques Leplat published in 1981"

Subsequent verbalization in the study of cognitive processes

Abstract: The analysis of work situations, in which cognitive activities play a crucial role, often makes use of verbal reports, as is the case for laboratory experiments on problem-solving. In these cases, the verbal report is considered as an indicator, amongst others, of a cognitive process to be studied. A contribution to the methodological discussion on the validity of this indicator is offered here. Only the ‘subsequent’ verbal report (obtained after the execution of the process) is considered. First, the relationship is treated between the activity of verbalization and a cognitive process, by considering its level of elaboration and its type. Second, the role of instructions given to the subject is examined on what is verbalized about (verbalization of knowledge underlying the execution of the process, verbalization of a particular execution, verbalization of the process in all possible cases). Last, a discussion is presented on the procedure of validation of the hypotheses derived from the verbal protocols

Task Analysis and Activity Analysis in Situations of Field Diagnosis

Abstract: A review of publications on diagnosis shows that only few of them relate to systematic field studies. Experiments in laboratory or simulation conditions are more frequent, though their relation to work situations is not always really examined. This relation gives rise to difficult problems (Leplat, 1976, 1978); it is necessary, however, in order to justify experimental studies, installation of systems, realisation of work supports, and training of operators. The necessary relation between field situations and laboratory conditions shows various forms (Rouse, 1979), considering for instance the representative quality of experimental tasks or the general character as opposed to the specific nature of diagnosis skill. One of the major difficulties of such a study certainly results from the analysis of field situations because of undeniable practical difficulties and also, because of lack of adequate theoretical outlines to guide such an analysis. Our present contribution will present a summary of such an outline, using examples to illustrate its necessity.