The Role of Visualization Tools in Spreadsheet Error Correction from a Cognitive Fit Perspective

Abstract

Errors in spreadsheets pose a serious problem for organizations and academics. This has resulted in ongoing efforts to devise measures for reducing errors or efficient ways of correcting them. Visualization tools are often advertised as means for improving spreadsheet error correction performance. This study investigates the role of visualization tools in spreadsheet error correction. For this purpose, this study proposes a framework for classifying activities associated with spreadsheet error correction. The framework is to highlight the activities that are important for correcting different types of spreadsheet errors, and to show how different visualization tools can aid error correction by effectively supporting these activities. By identifying "chaining" as one of the most important activities from the framework, this study uses cognitive fit theory to examine the effects of a visualization tool that supports chaining on spreadsheet error correction performance. Experimental methodology is used to test the outcome of cognitive fit between the error correction task and the visualization tool. The results of the experiment highlight the importance of cognitive fit between the type of task and the visualization tool for attaining better performance. This study also provides guidelines for designing and developing tools for spreadsheet error correction.

Cognition Matters: Enduring Questions in Cognitive IS Research

“…In particular, highly interactive and highly vivid systems have drawn research on visualization and animation (e.g., Hess, Fuller, & Campbell, 2009;Zhang, 2000). Not only has the same research question been sustained, but some of the main theoretical models have been retained and extended, e.g., visualization based on cognitive fit (Goswami, Chan, & Kim, 2008). Second, the context of HCI has expanded.…”

User acceptance of knowledge-based system recommendations: Explanations, arguments, and fit

“…In addition to its use in studies of graphs and tables [91], CFT has been used to explain sense making in data-exploration tasks [92], efficient query building [93,94], online shopping [95,96], graphs and information load [97], graphs and uncertainty [98,99], geographical information systems [100][101][102], accounting visualization [88,[103][104][105], spreadsheet usage and error correction [106], expert-data and selforganizing maps [107], maps [108,109], model comprehension [110][111][112], efficient database views [113], visual interactive simulations [114], multi-attribute data presentation [115], software development [116][117][118], hypertext and knowledge type [119], executive support systems [120,121], judgment strategies [122], system acceptance [123], multimedia effectiveness [124], interface design [125], decision aid features [126], pattern recognition [127], virtual reality [128], knowledge transfer [129], decision tables, trees, and rules [130], expertise and online reviews [...…”

An Alternative Fit through Problem Representation in Cognitive Fit Theory

“…The implication of fit is better problem solving performance, mostly measured in terms of time taken to perform the task and the number of errors made. In the context of spreadsheet analysis, cognitive fit between task and problem representation has been found to have resulted in better problem solving performance (Goswami et al, 2008). Mental representation on the other hand is a representation of the problem solving process and comprises mental models created based on the task and the problem representation.…”

“…The spreadsheet analysis task studied in this research is that of locating the precedent cell from a given spreadsheet formula that is displayed after clicking the dependent cell. This task of finding the precedent cell given a dependent cell is also referred to as chaining (Goswami et al, 2008). Spreadsheet cells containing formulas typically refer to other cells within the spreadsheet.…”