Logical Reasoning

PT16 · S2 · Q8 Because learned patterns of behavior

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Because learned patterns of behavior, such as the association of a green light with "go" or the expectation that switches will flip up for "on," become deeply ingrained, designers should make allowances for that fact, in order not to produce machines that are inefficient or dangerous.

Principle

Designers should make allowances for deeply ingrained learned patterns of behavior, like associating green with "go" or expecting switches to flip up for "on", so as not to produce machines that are inefficient or dangerous.

Goal

Since we want a situation that violates this principle, we want something designed where it goes against our normal associations.

Like RED = go or UP = turn off

8.

In which one of the following situations is the principle expressed most clearly violated?

  1. Manufacturers have refused to change

    Bad Match

    Manufacturers keep the standard keyboard layout because typists have learned it deeply. Changing it would frustrate the very pattern users have ingrained. Maintaining the standard respects the principle.

    8% picked this

  2. Government regulations require that crucial

    Bad Match

    Standardizing instrument placement across cockpits is the principle in action: pilots learn one arrangement deeply and can rely on it in any aircraft. This respects ingrained patterns, whereas we want something that goes against ingrained patterns.

    3% picked this

  3. Automobile manufacturers generally design for

    Bad Match

    Again, since something is being standardized across all cars/keys, they're ingraining a pattern that square means ignition and oval means luggage. If they suddenly released a car where the square key was for the trunk and oval key was for the ignition, then that would violated the principle.

    2% picked this

  4. The only traffic signs that

    Bad Match

    Reserving the triangular shape exclusively for "yield" signs sets up a clean and consistent visual cue that drivers come to recognize automatically. This establishes a useful ingrained pattern; it does not violate one.

    1% picked this

  5. Correct

    On some tape recorders the

    Why this is right

    This is a violation. Usually Green means Go and Red means Stop. But here, Red means start and Yellow means stop. What kind of world is this?

    Skill tested: Must be False · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

    86% picked this

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