Comprehension of Illustrated Text: Pictures Help to Build Mental Models

Glenberg, Arthur M.; Langston, William

doi:10.21236/ada229051

Cited by 18 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…This format provided some parity with the format employed in the "probabilistic condition" (i.e., three graphical images with supporting text), and research has shown that pictures accompanied by explanatory text are effective in helping individuals to develop mental models and a deep comprehension of concrete processes. (38,39) Furthermore, these studies also show that simplified diagrams can help individuals to generate inferences that facilitate comprehension of the concepts depicted in the diagrams. Hence, it appears plausible that our diagrams depicting the biological mechanism could aid the generation of an inference that the interaction would dramatically increase the risk of esophageal cancer.…”

Section: Communication Format and Contentsmentioning

confidence: 80%

Helping Individuals to Understand Synergistic Risks: An Assessment of Message Contents Depicting Mechanistic and Probabilistic Concepts

2012

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Accumulating evidence shows that certain hazard combinations interact to present synergistic risks. However, little is known about the most effective ways of helping individuals to understand this complex risk concept. More specifically, there is an absence of empirical research that has assessed the relative efficacy of messages that explain either the causal mechanism and/or the probabilistic components of synergistic risks. In an experiment designed to address this issue, we presented participants with messages concerning the synergistic risk of developing esophageal cancer for individuals who consume both tobacco and alcohol. Relative to a control group, we compared the extent to which messages featuring content detailing the underlying biological mechanism, the probabilistic risk, or both improved understanding of the synergistic risk. Our results showed that messages containing details of both the mechanism and probabilistic information were most effective at enabling individuals to understand that the alcohol-tobacco combination presents a synergistic risk. In addition, large improvements in the accuracy of cancer frequency estimates were observed amongst individuals who received probabilistic information, and the highest relative increase in professed willingness to adopt precautionary behaviors was observed amongst individuals who received the mechanism information only. Importantly, these findings could be utilized in the development of a general model for the communication of synergistic risks. Furthermore, in contrast to previous findings, our study demonstrates that risk messages can be both effective and efficient in helping individuals to acquire a greater understanding of synergistic risks. Acquiring such knowledge could lead to significant improvements in risk-related decisions concerning combined hazards.

show abstract

Section: Communication Format and Contentsmentioning

confidence: 80%

Helping Individuals to Understand Synergistic Risks: An Assessment of Message Contents Depicting Mechanistic and Probabilistic Concepts

2012

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Analysis of images usually differentiates between photographs and other types of illustrations, and considers their attributes, qualities, and appropriateness for use with targeted student age groups. Children have particular preferences for images that help them comprehend the content being presented in books (Fang, 1996;Glenberg & Langston, 1992), and this becomes important to consider when books are being selected to help teach concepts, even if those concepts are indirectly taught, such as when attributes of scientists are included but are not the primary construct intended to be conveyed by the illustrations.…”

Section: Importance Of Imagesmentioning

confidence: 99%

How Picture Books on the National Science Teacher's Association Recommend List Portray Scientists

Farland-Smith

Finson

Arquette

2017

School Sci & Mathematics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study utilized the Draw‐A‐Scientist Test Checklist (DAST‐C) to assess the illustrations of scientists in the most recent three years of NSTA Recommends book lists. A total of 15,778 images were contained in the 148 books from those lists, of which 1,676 were of scientists. ANOVA procedures revealed no significant differences in stereotypical elements across the three years of books. However, three notable stereotypical elements were present in large percentages in books from all years: predominance of male images, non‐minority scientists, and scientists who were not youthful.

show abstract

“…Another property of mental models is that they are constrained by working memory (Glenberg & Langston, 1992;Zwaan & Brown, 1996). If the processes required to form a coherent mental model require more WM resources than are available, then the reader or listener will experience difficulty.…”

Section: Comprehension As the Formation Of A Mental Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Resource Consumption as a Function of Topic Knowledge in Nonnative and Native Comprehension

Tyler

2001

Language Learning

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Previous research suggests that low-level receptive language processes are less developed for nonnative than for native listeners, yet experienced nonnatives seem to comprehend effortlessly in everyday situations. One possible explanation is that experienced nonnatives use topic knowledge to reduce working memory (WM) requirements. Native and experienced nonnatives attended to Bransford and Johnson's (1972) Washing Text while performing a concurrent task, with half of each group given the topic of the passage. Scores on the concurrent task were compared with baseline to index WM consumption. The results showed a relatively greater WM consumption for nonnatives than natives when the topic was unavailable, suggesting that nonnatives rely more than natives on topic knowledge in comprehension. Implications for foreign language learning are discussed.

show abstract

Comprehension of Illustrated Text: Pictures Help to Build Mental Models

Cited by 18 publications

References 0 publications

Helping Individuals to Understand Synergistic Risks: An Assessment of Message Contents Depicting Mechanistic and Probabilistic Concepts

Helping Individuals to Understand Synergistic Risks: An Assessment of Message Contents Depicting Mechanistic and Probabilistic Concepts

How Picture Books on the National Science Teacher's Association Recommend List Portray Scientists

Resource Consumption as a Function of Topic Knowledge in Nonnative and Native Comprehension

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About