Title

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

Authors

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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