[From Richard Thurman (960321.0959)
Rick Marken (960321.2100)
Richard Thurman (960319.1450) --
Thanks for responding to the "Phantom Plateau" questions. I will want to
follow up on them in the near future. But, unfortunately, I'm hard
pressed for time this week. I just didn't want you to think they have
gone unnoticed.
One issue though:
3) Shouldn't there be some follow up studies done in this area?...
Have
you (or anyone) thought about how to extend and improve the study?
There sure should be follow-up studies but I don't think there have been
any yet. I have thought about it a little -- way too little. I think it
should be possible to get a better picture of the reorganization process
in this kind of study. My goal would be to design the study so that we
could continuously monitor the variables that would have to be controlled
in order to "solve" the problem (keep the score going up).
.
.
.
I think the trick of doing experiments on learning is to design tasks
that are
easy enough to learn so that the subject doesn't become frustrated but
hard
enough so that there is something to learn. It's a tough area, and when
the
going gets tough, I get going -- away;-)
How about if I meet you half-way on this. How about if you describe what
would be necessary to replicate and extend this study. And I will try to
gin up a version (in Hypercard or something) that we could use in some
joint research. I don't yet (but I think I can) have a handle on just
what the original program did. What I think I need is a little more
detail.
Or another idea may be to extend and replicate this using our VR
equipment. It might be kind of fun to create an "immersive learning
station" or something like that. Developing VR applications are just a
tad harder than hypercard but it might be worth it. (If we jump on it we
may have something to show at the CSG meeting in July.)
Rich