THE THEORY OF COGNITIVE FIT - Human-Computer Interaction and Management Information Systems: Foundations - page 129

Figure 8.1 Cognitive Fit in Problem Solving

Problem
Representation

Mental
Representation
for Task
Solution

Problem-Solving
Performance

Problem-Solving
Task

It is apparent, then, cognitive fit exists when spatial tasks are supported by spatial representa-
tions and when symbolic tasks are supported by symbolic representations. We state the following
proposition.

Proposition 1 : More effective and efficient decision making results when the problem rep-

resentation matches the task to be accomplished.

Note that spatial tasks can be solved using symbolic representations, and vice versa. However,
when the information in the problem representation and the task do not match, similar processes
cannot be used both to act on the problem representation and to solve the problem, and the men-
tal representation will have to be transformed. In terms of cost-benefit theory, the strategy, in this
case the lower-level process, will require more effort and will most likely be less accurate. Hence,
there is no incentive to use tables to support spatial tasks and vice versa.

Applying Cost-Benefit Principles to Tasks with Well-Defined Sub-Tasks

In this section, we examine the application of the theory of cognitive fit to tasks for which the sub-
tasks are known. These are relatively simple tasks. They involve both information acquisition
tasks and tasks that involve simple information evaluation.
Vessey (1991) assessed support for the theory of cognitive fit by analyzing in detail the effec-
tiveness of graphs and tables in information acquisition studies published prior to the appearance
of the theory of cognitive fit. She found that the theory could explain the findings of all prior stud-
ies with the exception of a limited number of studies that did not provide sufficient information to
assess the nature of the representations and/or tasks used, and therefore the cognitive processes
that would have been invoked.
Vessey also addressed the robustness of the theory by considering whether strategy shift
occurred under any circumstances when cognitive fit existed. Perhaps the most common occur-
rence in decision making not considered by the basic theory is the effect of performance require-
ments (i.e., task demands of either time or accuracy) that are not consistent with the task type and
the problem representation that best supports it: in general, perceptual processes lead to fast