Learning complex computer programs

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Abstract
The nature of users' difficulties when learning either a data-base or a spread-sheet program is analysed here. Two subjects for each program were thinking aloud while following the instructions in a written tutorial. One main result was the large number of different difficulties, both procedural and conceptual, experienced by the subjects. A tentative conclusion is that it may not be possible to eliminate these difficulties by making only a small number of changes to the programs. In contrast to earlier studies, mistaken analogies were not a major source of difficulties; for example, the typewriter analogy contributed only to a very small extent. The analyses showed that subjects had more difficulties on the main command level than on the sub-command level. Despite the small number of subjects, a large variation in learning strategy was observed.

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