Artifacts as psychological theories: the case of human-computer interaction
- 1 August 1989
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in Behaviour & Information Technology
- Vol. 8 (4) , 247-256
- https://doi.org/10.1080/01449298908914556
Abstract
We cast the psychology of human-computer interaction (HCI) in terms of task analysis and the invention of artifacts. We consider the implications of this for attempts to define HCI in terms of a priori conceptions of psychology. We suggest that artifacts can be considered theory-like in HCI, and observe that they do play a theory-like role in the field as practiced. Our proposal resolves the current methodological perplexity about the legitimacy and composition of the field. We conclude that HCI is a distinct son of science: a design science.Keywords
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