Researches on symbol-training methods : Past and present

Previous researches found that training significantly improved the comprehension ability of graphical symbols. One of the aims of this paper is to present a review of symbol-training. A summary of studies related to symbol training in past 40 years is given. Three symbol-training methods (i.e. paired-associate learning, recognition training, recall training) that were commonly used by ergonomists or industrial designers are identified. Such review had never been seen and would be helpful in formulating research plans and methodology for conducting other symbol-training studies. There does not appear to have been any research comparing the effectiveness of different symbol-training methods. Another purpose of this paper is to explore the comparison. The results provide practical guidelines for the design of more user-friendly symbol-training programs.