Principle of Appropriate Knowledge

Overview

The Principle of Appropriate Knowledge states that it is important to ensure that the viewer has the necessary knowledge to extract and interpret the information in the display (Kosslyn 2006).

Challenges

1. Determining the appropriate level of knowledge: One challenge of the principle of appropriate knowledge is determining the appropriate level of knowledge for a given audience. This can be difficult as the knowledge and understanding of each independent individual can vary widely. Assigning the appropriate level of knowledge to a group of individuals with similar characteristics can lead to inaccuracy. Even within the same group of people with identical characteristics, such as children in the age of 6-12, the appropriate level knowledge for each individual can be significantly different from another individual.

2. Account for individual differences: Another challenge of the principle of appropriate knowledge is accounting for individual differences in learning and retention. People have different learning styles and preferences, and what may work for one person may not work for another.

3. Staying current: Another challenge of the principle of appropriate knowledge is staying current with changes in knowledge and understanding. As people's knowledge and understanding change over time, what may have been appropriate at one point may no longer be appropriate at a later point.