Glossary - Foundations for Designing User-Centered Systems - page 415

Recency effect Refers to the fact that the items presented at the end of a list of
items to be learned are subsequently better recalled than items in the middle of
the list in a free (unprimed) recall situation.
Recognition-primed decision making (RPDM) An approach to decision making
which suggests that experts do not do problem solving, but that they recognize
the particular situation (through perception) which directly leads them to make
decisions about the correct actions to take.
Reliability When referring to evaluation, reliability describes the ability of a
particular measure to produce consistent results when the same things are
measured under different conditions. Often used in the context of test-retest
reliability.When referring to systems, it refers to a dynamic property of the
eventual system which relates to the ability of the system to function under
stated conditions for a specified period of time.
Repetitive strain injury (RSI) A condition arising from upper limb disorders.
Retrieval biases Describes the inherent biases within people that affect what they
recall from memory. They include primary effects, recency effects, and the von
Restorff effect.
Rich pictures A component part of Soft Systems Methodology. Used to represent
graphically the work context based on the roles, responsibilities, and concerns
of the system stakeholders.
Risk-driven incremental commitment model A revised version of the spiral
model which encourages incremental development of systems in an ongoing
spiral process comprising requirements specification, technical exploration, and
stakeholder commitment. At each stage the system development is assessed for
risks to the success of the overall system.
Rods A type of light receptor cell located on the retina. Rods are very sensitive to
motion. See also Cones.
Role-expressiveness One of the cognitive dimensions. It describes the extent to
which a system reveals the goals of the system designer to the user.
Satisficing A method that finds a reasonable solution taking into consideration the
costs of finding a (better, more optimal) solution.
Search engine optimization The process of increasing the visibility of a web
page or web site in a search engine's organic (unpaid) search results.
Sensitivity A term used to describe how much a particular measure will change as
other factors change.
Serial position curve A graphical representation of how the position of an item in
a list affects its recall from memory. Often used to help show primacy and
recency effects.