Study on Mental Model Construction Using Eye-Tracking Device

• Published in: Bulletin of Human Centered Design Organization Vol. 20; no. 1; pp. 25 - 33
• Main Authors: Kimura, Atsuya, Yoshitake, Ryoji, Sashizawa, Tatsuya, Kawamoto, Kenta, Shima, Yasuyo, Ohashi, Kazuki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Human Centered Design Organization 31.03.2024; 特定非営利活動法人 人間中心設計推進機構
• Subjects: Account; Eye Tracking; Mental Model; Novice Expert ratio; Usability
• ISSN: 1882-9635; 2435-0605
• DOI: 10.34404/hcd.20.1_25

This study investigates whether an eye-tracking device can capture the construction of mental models. It also seeks to understand the causes that impede the construction of mental models. Subjects visited the same web page five times with a break in between. The subjects wore eye-tracking device, and we analyzed their gaze data. The results showed that all subjects had constructed a mental model by the second or third session. The causes that inhibited mental model building were consistent with the usability problems we had identified in the heuristic evaluation prior to the experiment. We also were able to draw a theory that identifies areas that are difficult to use even when mental models are constructed.