Mental Models 1 Running head: MENTAL MODELS Mental Models of Complex Systems: Structure and Function

Interacting with complex systems such as organizations and mechanical devices is an integral part of our lives. Learning them can be a challenge, although they can be described in language and depicted in diagrams. Medium, verbal or graphic, and ability/expertise have had conflicting effects on acquisition. Those effects are clarified by recognizing that complex systems have structural organizations, parts and their relations, and functional organizations, operations and consequences. Diagrams can convey a variety of functions by the addition of arrows. Diagrams are effective for those with high mechanical ability/expertise but difficult specifically for functional information for those with low ability/expertise. Individuals high in ability/expertise form mental models integrating function and structure; those with low ability/expertise form mental models of structure separate from knowledge of function. .