Apprehension Principle

Overview

The apprehension principle is a guideline for creating effective visual displays in order to communicate information effectively. It states that the visual display should be presented in a manner that allows the viewer to accurately perceive and understand it. This means that the speed at which animations are presented should be appropriate for the viewer to comprehend (Tversky et al., 2002), and the visual dimensions, including size, position, and color, should be accurately judged by the viewer (Cleveland & McGill, 1983; Wickens & Hollands, 2000). The goal of the apprehension principle is to ensure that the visual display is effective in conveying the intended message or information. This can be achieved by considering the viewer's cognitive abilities and limitations, and designing the visual display in a way that is easy to understand and interpret. The principle is based on the idea that the way in which information is presented can significantly impact its accessibility and understandability. By designing visual displays that are clear, concise, and easy to comprehend, it is possible to effectively communicate information to the viewer.

References

1. TVERSKY, B. A. R. B. A. R. A., MORRISON, J. U. L. I. E. B. A. U. E. R., & BETRANCOURT, M. I. R. E. I. L. L. E. (2002). Animation: Can it facilitate? International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 57(4), 247–262. https://doi.org/10.1006/ijhc.2002.1017

2. Cleveland, W. S., & McGill, R. (1983). A color-caused optical illusion on a statistical graph. The American Statistician, 37(2), 101. https://doi.org/10.2307/2685868

3. Wickens, C.D. and Hollands, J.G. (2000) Engineering Psychology and Human Performance. 3rd Edition, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River.