Information Presentation and Judgment Strategy from a Cognitive Fit Perspective

Journal of Information Systems, Vol 12, No 1, Spring 1998

Posted: 18 Mar 1998

See all articles by Russell Kershaw

Russell Kershaw

Butler University - College of Business Administration

Brad Tuttle

University of South Carolina - Department of Accounting

Abstract

Information system developers want to know how their information presentation choices will affect user judgment. Prior research suggests that performance on elementary information processing tasks is enhanced when there is a cognitive fit between the way data are presented and the way they are used. This theory has been applied only to elementary information processing tasks or judgment strategy has not been manipulated. The aim of this research is to see if cognitive fit theory can be applied to overall judgment strategies. Judgment strategy is the combination of elementary information processing tasks that a decision maker employs to arrive at an overall judgment. Two types of judgment strategies are investigated: (1) a holistic strategy that tends to use spatial information processing tasks and (2) an analytic strategy that tends to emphasize symbolic tasks. If cognitive fit research applies to overall judgment strategy, then graphs should support holistic judgment strategies better and tables should support analytic strategies better. We obtained results that are consistent with this premise from graduate business students evaluating performance for hypothetical manufacturing plant managers.

JEL Classification: M40, M46

Suggested Citation

Kershaw, Russell and Tuttle, Brad, Information Presentation and Judgment Strategy from a Cognitive Fit Perspective. Journal of Information Systems, Vol 12, No 1, Spring 1998, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=68070

Russell Kershaw

Butler University - College of Business Administration ( email )

Indianapolis, IN 46208
317-940-9841 (Phone)
317-940-9455 (Fax)

Brad Tuttle (Contact Author)

University of South Carolina - Department of Accounting ( email )

The Francis M. Hipp Building
1705 College Street
Columbia, SC 29208
United States
803-777-6639 (Phone)
803-777-6876 (Fax)

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