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An Analysis of the Cognitive Functions of Graphical Representations in Extended Semantic Approach

Research Project

Project/Area Number 18500206
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section一般
Research Field Cognitive science
Research InstitutionDoshisha University

Principal Investigator

SHIMOJIMA Atsushi  Doshisha University, Faculty of Culture and Information Science, Professor (40303341)

Project Period (FY) 2006 – 2007
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 2007)
Budget Amount *help
¥2,270,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000)
Fiscal Year 2007: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000)
Fiscal Year 2006: ¥1,100,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000)
Keywordsgraphical representation / diagrammatic reasoning / semantics / eye-tracking / graph comprehension / cognitive functions of diagrams
Research Abstract

The purpose of this research project was to make a contribution to the cognitive study of graphic representations from the standpoint of semantic analysis.
One of the main consequences of semantic analysis conducted in this project is that many graphical representations have the so-called "free ride" property, namely, the property of automatically expressing a logical consequence of a set of information in the course of expressing that set of information. This property is predicted to have a strong influence on the process of inferences made with diagrams. In order to verify this prediction, we conducted two experiments in June 1997 and June 1998, measuring the eye-movements of humans who solved logical inference problems with diagrams.
As the result, we obtained a strong evidence of the tendency for humans to use the free-ride property of diagrams even when they are not in position to physically manipulate the diagrams. The similar results were obtained when the semantic rules employed by the diagrams do not match the users' semantic preference, and when the premises of the inference cannot be uniquely expressed in the diagram due to its "specificity" property. This suggests that the use of free-ride properties of diagrams is quite a robust, and hence general process in human inference with diagrams.
Thus, the prediction made by a semantic analysis of diagrams about human inference processes has been verified in psychological experiments. This seems to point to a new fertile research method in cognitive study of graphical representations.

Report

(3 results)
  • 2007 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report Summary
  • 2006 Annual Research Report
  • Research Products

    (7 results)

All 2009 2008 2007 2006

All Presentation (7 results)

  • [Presentation] Hypothetical Drawing in Embodied Spatial Reasoning(to be presented)2009

    • Author(s)
      A. Shimojima, Y. Katagiri
    • Organizer
      Thirtieth Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society
    • Place of Presentation
      Washington, D.C., USA
    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      2007 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Presentation] An Eye-Tracking Study of Exploitations of Spatial Constraints in Diagrammatic Reasoning(to be presented)2009

    • Author(s)
      A. Shimojima, Y. Katagiri
    • Organizer
      Fifth International Conference on the Theory and Application of Diagrams
    • Place of Presentation
      Munchen, Germany
    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      2007 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Presentation] Hypothetical Drawing in Embodied Spatial Reasoning2008

    • Author(s)
      Atsushi Shimojima, Yasuhiro Katagiri
    • Organizer
      The Thirtieth Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society
    • Place of Presentation
      Omni Shorehan Hotel,Washington,D.C.,USA
    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      2007 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Presentation] 視線計測データに基づく仮定的描画による推論の検証2007

    • Author(s)
      下嶋 篤
    • Organizer
      日本認知科学会第24回大会
    • Place of Presentation
      成城大学
    • Year and Date
      2007-09-03
    • Related Report
      2007 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] A Verification of Inferences by Hypothetical Drawing Based on Eye-Tracking Data(in Japanese)2007

    • Author(s)
      A. Shimojima
    • Organizer
      Twenty-Fourth Meeting of the Japan Cognitive Science Society
    • Place of Presentation
      Seijo, Japan
    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      2007 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Presentation] Using Channel Theory to Account for Graphical Meaning Generations2006

    • Author(s)
      A. Shimojima
    • Organizer
      Fourth International Conference on the Theory and Application of Diagrams
    • Place of Presentation
      Stanford, USA
    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      2007 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Presentation] What Channel Theory Has to Say about Graphical Meaning2006

    • Author(s)
      A. Shimojima
    • Organizer
      Trends in Logic IV, Studia Logica International Conference
    • Place of Presentation
      Torun, Poland
    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      2007 Final Research Report Summary

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Published: 2006-04-01   Modified: 2016-04-21  

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