Re: cognition and engineers

Rachel Heckert (heckertkrs who-is-at juno.com)
Tue, 17 Feb 1998 19:10:07 -0500

Doris,

I don't know much about engineering, but in a previous incarnation I
could program mainframes in COBOL, BAL, etc. There is a very ancient
book ('71, Van Nostrand) by Gerald Weinberg called "The Psychology of
Computer Programming" which was an early attempt to work with this
question in regard to programming. It's no doubt very dated, but it
might have some interest for you. I believe Weinberg is a programmer,
not a psychologist, so the slant might be different, and very much the
insider's view. (The dust-jacket mentions that he was in the computer
department at SUNY and had been programming since 1956.)

Regards,

Rachel

*****************************
I was curious if anyone on this list knew of work done on the thinking
processes of electrical, mechanical, chemical or civil engineers. I
teach
a class called the Psychology of Science and Technology that looks at the

working cognition of scientists and technologist. I have been using
John-Steiner's Notebooks of the Mind, Explorations in Thinking, (thank
you
Vera) and Wallace and Gruber's Creative People at Work. Both of which I
will continue to use, but most of my students will be engineers and I
would like a specific text if I can find one.
Thank you.

Doris Ravotas

_____________________________________________________________________
You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail.
Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com
Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]