Cognitive representations of DOS commands as a function of expertise

A study was made of the cognitive networks derived from the similarity rating of IBM Personal Computer Disk Operating System (IBM PC DOS) commands by computer users with varying levels of expertise. The networks of naive, novice, and intermediate users were examined to determine which links in their networks were also present in an expert network. Groups with a greater level of DOS expertise had more links in common with the experts. A core set of commands was identified that were linked in every network. As the level of expertise changed, it was possible to show the order in which links in the experts' network appeared in those of the novice and intermediate groups.< >