An automatic/controlled processing theory application to training component map reading skills.

An experiment was conducted which explored the applicability of automatic/controlled processing theory to a complex map reading/identification task. Subjects were trained on one component of a map reading task (magnitude estimation based on map-legend colour codes) and then transferred to a full map reading mask. Consistent and inconsistent colour codes were trained. Training with consistent map-legend colour codes resulted in automatic processing of those codes and led to performance that was faster, less variable and less sensitive to memory factors when compared with performance associated with variably mapped colour codes. These data support the view that consistent hierarchical relationships can be utilised to supersede inconsistencies at the individual stimulus level. The results also place constraints on how displays should be built in order to capitalise on hierarchical consistencies held in memory.