A comparison of words and icons as external memory aids in an information retrieval task

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Abstract
Enrichment is a process whereby computer-based information is tagged with additional attributes which can be used in an information retrieval system to increase the speed and accuracy of access. In this way, the additional attributes act as external memory aids. Lansdale (1988a) evaluated such a system by looking at the memorability of coloured shapes, placed in different locations on a document, which were used as enrichers in a simple information retrieval task. This paper extends that study to look at memory for labels used in an identical way. Verbal and visual enriching attributes were studied under two conditions: one in which they were assigned to documents automatically by the system, and one in which the users made their own choice. Results indicate a strong trend in which recall was higher when subjects made their own selection of enriching attributes as opposed to having them selected for them. In the comparison of words and icons, there was no evidence that the modalities of the enrichers were a significant factor in recall. Recall performance seems to be primarily related to the ‘semantic fit’ of the documents and the attributes selected to enrich them. The extent to which this implies potential differences in the utility of visual and verbal methods in future applications is discussed.

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