Cognitive efficiency describes how individuals optimize limited mental resources to achieve improvements in learning and problem-solving. Research on expert performance and expertise has shown that expert designers structure the organization of cognitive actions more efficiently than novices. However, cognitive efficiency in engineering design processes has not been well studied because of technical limitations at the neurological level and lack of quantitative methods for analyzing information contained in designers’ cognitive processes at the performance level. The purpose of this study is to introduce Kolmogorov complexity to measure information contained in the changes of sketches generated by designers. The Kolmogorov complexity of each design move is calculated by the number of cognitive actions and transitions between different levels of information processing. In this study, sketches and verbal protocols generated by 15 participants were analyzed. Cognitive efficiency was determined by the quality of design outcomes and the expenditure of mental effort. The results indicate that Kolmogorov complexity is negatively related to cognitive efficiency; the higher the Kolmogorov complexity, the lower the cognitive efficiency.
Skip Nav Destination
ASME 2013 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference
August 4–7, 2013
Portland, Oregon, USA
Conference Sponsors:
- Design Engineering Division
- Computers and Information in Engineering Division
ISBN:
978-0-7918-5592-8
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Evaluating Cognitive Efficiency by Measuring Information Contained in Designers’ Cognitive Processes
Ganyun Sun,
Ganyun Sun
University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada
Search for other works by this author on:
Shengji Yao,
Shengji Yao
McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
Search for other works by this author on:
Juan A. Carretero
Juan A. Carretero
University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada
Search for other works by this author on:
Ganyun Sun
University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada
Shengji Yao
McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
Juan A. Carretero
University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada
Paper No:
DETC2013-13628, V005T06A029; 10 pages
Published Online:
February 12, 2014
Citation
Sun, G, Yao, S, & Carretero, JA. "Evaluating Cognitive Efficiency by Measuring Information Contained in Designers’ Cognitive Processes." Proceedings of the ASME 2013 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference. Volume 5: 25th International Conference on Design Theory and Methodology; ASME 2013 Power Transmission and Gearing Conference. Portland, Oregon, USA. August 4–7, 2013. V005T06A029. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/DETC2013-13628
Download citation file:
17
Views
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Articles
An Approach to Study Associations Between Design Concepts and Design Outcomes
J. Mech. Des (April,2015)
The Relationship Between Design Outcomes and Mental States During Ideation
J. Mech. Des (May,2017)
The Effects of Designers' Contextual Experience on the Ideation Process and Design Outcomes
J. Mech. Des (October,2018)
Related Chapters
Cyber-Physical Systems, Blended Tool Environments, and Playful Creativity
Advances in Computers and Information in Engineering Research, Volume 2
Engineering Consultancy Services
Marketing of Engineering Consultancy Services: A Global Perspective
Processing Free Form Objects within a Product Development Process Framework
Advances in Computers and Information in Engineering Research, Volume 1