Developmental human factors: Children's mental models of computers

Kristin E. Oleson; Valerie K. Sims; Matthew G. Chin; Heather C. Lum; Anne Sinatra

doi:10.1518/107118110X12829370088129

Developmental human factors: Children's mental models of computers

Kristin E. Oleson, Valerie K. Sims, Matthew G. Chin, Heather C. Lum, Anne Sinatra

School of Humanities & Social Sciences (Behrend)

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Two groups of first, third, and fifth grade children were interviewed about their mental models of computers. The first group was interviewed in 1999, and the second in 2009. In both data sets, children as young as 6 years of age generated well developed analogies for computers. However, the 2009 data showed that children are increasingly able to generate these analogies at a younger age. Further, the types of analogies generated differed as a function of time, with those interviewed in 1999 more likely to describe perceptual qualities of computers (e.g., it is square), and those interviewed in 2009 relating computers to both cell phones and entertainment devices. Children's knowledge of technology provides a glimpse into the future user's mindset.

Original language	English (US)
Title of host publication	54th Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting 2010, HFES 2010
Pages	1450-1453
Number of pages	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1518/107118110X12829370088129
State	Published - Dec 1 2010
Event	54th Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting 2010, HFES 2010 - San Francisco, CA, United States Duration: Sep 27 2010 → Oct 1 2010

Publication series

Name	Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
Volume	2
ISSN (Print)	1071-1813

Other

Other	54th Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting 2010, HFES 2010
Country	United States
City	San Francisco, CA
Period	9/27/10 → 10/1/10

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Human Factors and Ergonomics

Access to Document

10.1518/107118110X12829370088129

Fingerprint Dive into the research topics of 'Developmental human factors: Children's mental models of computers'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this

Oleson, K. E., Sims, V. K., Chin, M. G., Lum, H. C., & Sinatra, A. (2010). Developmental human factors: Children's mental models of computers. In 54th Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting 2010, HFES 2010 (pp. 1450-1453). (Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society; Vol. 2). https://doi.org/10.1518/107118110X12829370088129

@inproceedings{912648ca75de4f9c941e4c3d10c970eb,

title = "Developmental human factors: Children's mental models of computers",

abstract = "Two groups of first, third, and fifth grade children were interviewed about their mental models of computers. The first group was interviewed in 1999, and the second in 2009. In both data sets, children as young as 6 years of age generated well developed analogies for computers. However, the 2009 data showed that children are increasingly able to generate these analogies at a younger age. Further, the types of analogies generated differed as a function of time, with those interviewed in 1999 more likely to describe perceptual qualities of computers (e.g., it is square), and those interviewed in 2009 relating computers to both cell phones and entertainment devices. Children's knowledge of technology provides a glimpse into the future user's mindset.",

author = "Oleson, {Kristin E.} and Sims, {Valerie K.} and Chin, {Matthew G.} and Lum, {Heather C.} and Anne Sinatra",

year = "2010",

month = dec,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1518/107118110X12829370088129",

language = "English (US)",

isbn = "9781617820885",

series = "Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society",

pages = "1450--1453",

booktitle = "54th Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting 2010, HFES 2010",

note = "54th Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting 2010, HFES 2010 ; Conference date: 27-09-2010 Through 01-10-2010",

}

Oleson, KE, Sims, VK, Chin, MG, Lum, HC & Sinatra, A 2010, Developmental human factors: Children's mental models of computers. in 54th Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting 2010, HFES 2010. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, vol. 2, pp. 1450-1453, 54th Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting 2010, HFES 2010, San Francisco, CA, United States, 9/27/10. https://doi.org/10.1518/107118110X12829370088129

Developmental human factors : Children's mental models of computers. / Oleson, Kristin E.; Sims, Valerie K.; Chin, Matthew G.; Lum, Heather C.; Sinatra, Anne.

54th Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting 2010, HFES 2010. 2010. p. 1450-1453 (Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society; Vol. 2).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

TY - GEN

T1 - Developmental human factors

T2 - 54th Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting 2010, HFES 2010

AU - Oleson, Kristin E.

AU - Sims, Valerie K.

AU - Chin, Matthew G.

AU - Lum, Heather C.

AU - Sinatra, Anne

PY - 2010/12/1

Y1 - 2010/12/1

N2 - Two groups of first, third, and fifth grade children were interviewed about their mental models of computers. The first group was interviewed in 1999, and the second in 2009. In both data sets, children as young as 6 years of age generated well developed analogies for computers. However, the 2009 data showed that children are increasingly able to generate these analogies at a younger age. Further, the types of analogies generated differed as a function of time, with those interviewed in 1999 more likely to describe perceptual qualities of computers (e.g., it is square), and those interviewed in 2009 relating computers to both cell phones and entertainment devices. Children's knowledge of technology provides a glimpse into the future user's mindset.

AB - Two groups of first, third, and fifth grade children were interviewed about their mental models of computers. The first group was interviewed in 1999, and the second in 2009. In both data sets, children as young as 6 years of age generated well developed analogies for computers. However, the 2009 data showed that children are increasingly able to generate these analogies at a younger age. Further, the types of analogies generated differed as a function of time, with those interviewed in 1999 more likely to describe perceptual qualities of computers (e.g., it is square), and those interviewed in 2009 relating computers to both cell phones and entertainment devices. Children's knowledge of technology provides a glimpse into the future user's mindset.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79952934412&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=79952934412&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1518/107118110X12829370088129

DO - 10.1518/107118110X12829370088129

M3 - Conference contribution

AN - SCOPUS:79952934412

SN - 9781617820885

T3 - Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society

SP - 1450

EP - 1453

BT - 54th Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting 2010, HFES 2010

Y2 - 27 September 2010 through 1 October 2010

ER -