A picture is worth a thousand connections: the facilitative effects of diagrams on mental model development and task performance

    Authors

    S. M. Fiore; H. M. Cuevas;R. L. Oser

    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Comput. Hum. Behav.

    Keywords

    mental models; knowledge structures; knowledge acquisition; diagrams; card sorts; KNOWLEDGE STRUCTURES; MINDS EYE; TEXT; ILLUSTRATIONS; MULTIMEDIA; WORDS; Psychology, Multidisciplinary; Psychology, Experimental

    Abstract

    This study investigated the influence of training format on knowledge structure development and how differing knowledge structure measurement techniques can be used to best assess training effectiveness. The presence of diagrams was manipulated in a computer-based training tutorial designed to assess mental model development and knowledge acquisition. Participants presented with diagrams were more likely to accurately draw connections across modules of the training. Diagrams also facilitated performance on measures of integrative knowledge but not on measures of declarative knowledge. The results are discussed in the context of mental model theory. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

    Journal Title

    Computers in Human Behavior

    Volume

    19

    Issue/Number

    2

    Publication Date

    1-1-2003

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    185

    Last Page

    199

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000181015500004

    ISSN

    0747-5632

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