All,
In C (and other languages) arrays can be initialised using a
list of numbers:
int a_1[10] = { 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3};
Programmers sometimes provide too few or too many values.
The too many case is required to be flagged by the compiler (there
are cases where it isn't, but lets not get involved in those).
If there are too few values the compiler 'helpfully' provides
zeroes (it is required to do this by the standard). Most don't warn
that implicit zeroes are being provided. Sometimes the programmer
wanted zeroes and was being lazy, other times a miscount occurred.
The values are usually close to zero (in fact in many cases they
are zero, hence the implicit zero rule).
Research looking at the stroop effect would suggest that it is best (reduced
error rate) to have long lists of small numbers (the effect being inversely
proportional to the difference between the value and the length of the list;
Pavese & Umilta).
But an alternative strategy would be to lay the values out in 2 dimensions:
int a_1[10] = { 3, 3, 3, 3, 3,
3, 3, 3 };
or
int a_1[10] = { 3, 3,
3, 3,
3, 3,
3, 3 };
Grouping values like this does appear to make it easier to spot inconsistencies
in the number provided and the number expected.
Is anybody aware of any research that looks at counting values when they
occur in this kind of two dimensional form?
The other issue is the values themselves. They are not always the same. The
all 3's case above would typically include also some 1's and 2's. Does anybody
know of stroop effect research where the values in the list varied?
Is there any layout strategy that can claim to reduce the probability of a code
reader getting the counts wrong?
derek
--
Derek M Jones tel: +44 (0)
1252 520 667
Knowledge Software
Ltd mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Applications Standards Conformance Testing http://www.knosof.co.uk
- Automatic footer for [EMAIL PROTECTED] ----------------------------------
To unsubscribe from this list, mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] unsubscribe discuss
To join the announcements list, mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe announce
To receive a help file, mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] help
This list is archived at http://www.mail-archive.com/discuss%40ppig.org/
If you have any problems or questions, please mail [EMAIL PROTECTED]
