Bridging the Dual Nature: How Integrated Explanations Enhance Understanding of Technical Artifacts

TL;DR

This study shows that combining explanations of a technical artifact's structure and purpose improves practical understanding and application, which is crucial for education and explainable AI.

Contribution

It demonstrates that integrated explanations of architecture and relevance enhance practical understanding more than focusing on either perspective alone.

Findings

Integrated explanations increase enabledness in understanding.

No significant difference in factual comprehension across conditions.

Bridging perspectives aids practical application of technical knowledge.

Abstract

Purpose: Understanding a technical artifact requires grasping both its internal structure (Architecture) and its purpose and significance (Relevance), as formalized by Dual Nature Theory. This controlled experimental study investigates whether how explainers address these perspectives affects explainees' understanding. Methods: In a between-subjects experiment, 104 participants received explanations of the board game Quarto! from trained confederates in one of three conditions: Architecture-focused (A), Relevance-focused (R), or Integrated (AR). Understanding was assessed on comprehension (knowing that) and enabledness (knowing how). Results: The A and R conditions produced equivalent understanding despite different explanation content. The AR condition yielded significantly higher enabledness than the focused conditions combined $\mathrm{F}(1, 102) = 4.83$, $p = .030$, $\eta^2_p = .045$}, while no differences emerged for comprehension. Conclusion: Integrating Architecture and Relevance specifically enhances explainees' ability to apply their understanding in practice, suggesting that fostering agency with technical artifacts requires bridging both perspectives. This has implications for technology education and explainable AI design.