The acquisition of experience is a time-consuming process resulting from exposure to multiple eventualities and deriving the most appropriate and efficient way of dealing with them. In radiology, the recognition of visual patterns, an appreciation of their significance, and relationship to one another help the radiologist to interpret an image. The aim of this thesis was to develop techniques to analyse the massive amount of data acquired when the eye-movements of a radiologist reading HRCT examinations are recorded with a view to understanding some of the processes behind the assimilation of images.
Initially, the radiologists’ approach to HRCT examinations presented in different viewing formats was assessed. It was found that in terms of time taken, number of fixation points and consistency of approach between examinations of similar disease processes, that images displayed at full screen size, one at a time was the more efficient presentation format.
Subsequent experiments were aimed at assessing the cognitive processes being employed by the observers in terms of their eye-movements. The approach of experienced observers was recorded and incorporated into a teaching presentation. The eye-movements of novice radiologists were then compared to those of the experienced observers, in terms of their visuospatial and feature-based characteristics, before and after training. The novice group was divided into two sub-groups one of which was given specific feedback as to how the experienced observers approached the examinations. This feedback did not result in a significant difference between the two groups of novices and any post training improvement in approach seen was more evident in the group of novices not give the extra information regarding the experienced observers’ approach.
The thesis details techniques for analysing the approach of observers to HRCT examinations and the investigations demonstrated a fair degree of consistency among experienced observers. However, there was no discernible improvement in the approach of the novices following a limited training protocol, which was based on the behaviour of the experienced observers.