DEALING WITH A DATABASE QUERY LANGUAGE IN A NEW SITUATION

The experiment presented constitutes an initial attempt to create a model of the end user of a database query language. The central issue is the cognitive behavior reflected when a user faces a query condition which is similar to, but more complex than those conditions he has been taught to deal with. This behavior is characterized by its problem-solving nature. In order to approach an understanding of the cognitive processes involved, a task analysis is undertaken. The instruction text to the query language is seen as a major ingredient of the task analysis. The analysis suggests that subjects may focus on different aspects of the instruction text. Data derived by recording the subjects 'thinking aloud' provide support for this expectation. Four different routes to the solution of the 'new' questions are identified.