Modern Cognitive Theories Vocabulary

Flashcards reviewing key vocabulary terms from a lecture on modern cognitive theories for HCI, including external cognition, distributed cognition, ecological psychology, situated action, ethnomethodology, CSCW theories, activity theory, and grounded theory.

External Cognition

Explains how we interact with external representations (e.g., maps, notes, diagrams) to extend our cognition.

Computational Offloading

Using a tool with an external representation to perform a computation (e.g., pen and paper).

Annotation

Modifying existing representations through marks (e.g., crossing off, ticking, underlining).

Cognitive Tracing

Externally manipulating items into different orders or structures (e.g., playing Scrabble).

Distributed Cognition

The nature of cognitive phenomena across individuals, artifacts, and internal/external representations.

Ecological Psychology

The study of relationships between humans and their environment, focusing on invariant structures.

Ecological Constraints

Structures in the external world that guide people’s actions.

Affordances

Relationship between properties of a person and the perceptual properties of an object.

Situated Action

Examines the relationship of knowledge and action to specific circumstances.

Ethnomethodology

How people accomplish social order in everyday and work settings.

CSCW (Computer Supported Cooperative Work)

Theories incorporating social psychology and sociology to understand cooperative work.

Activity Theory

A framework where activity is the unit of analysis, driven by objectives and mediated by tools.

Grounded Theory

A framework for developing theories based on collected data through iterative coding and analysis.