Peer-Mediated Leap to Efficiency: Cost-Benefit Analysis in the Selection of Efficient Strategies

Abstract

There is ample evidence that computer users often do not progress from novice to expert levels of performance, particularly when efficiency is included in the definition of performance. This paper describes a theoretical argument that one of the pieces missing in the understanding of this process is an accurate assessment of how people calculate a cost/benefit analysis (CBA) of learning and using new techniques and strategies. While there are many explanations for why people often do not use accurate methods of calculating this ratio, there is little discussion describing why some people do. We suggest that an important and predictable influence on whether an individual uses an accurate CBA is the observation of others using efficient techniques. We propose that with a more full understanding of the CBA calculation process, it will be possible to predict when users will and will not utilize a more efficient technique.Expertise and the achievement of expert performance is a broad field. Although much of the previous work in expertise has provided important descriptions of expertise, the findings are equivocal regarding the processes associated with achieving this level of performance.

Computer Based Training with a Twist: Leveraging Peer-to-Peer Learning to Improve Training Effectiveness

“…Another way that people can (and do) learn more advanced methods with software on the job is by working with others who use those techniques (Peres, Tamborello, Fleetwood, Chung, & Paige-Smith, 2004;Tamborello, Peres & Fleetwood, 2006;Chadwick-Dias, Tedesco, & Tullis, 2004). Indeed, in our lab we have been able to experimentally manipulate this effect and have found that people increased their utilization of more efficient methods of using the software after watching a peer use the efficient method than if they observed a peer using another method.…”