Representations support learning and instruction in many ways. Two key aspects of representations are discussed in this paper. First we briefly review the research literature about cognition and processing internal mental models. The emphasis is on the role that mental models play in critical reasoning and problem solving. We then present a theoretically-grounded rationale for taking internal m...

To examine the information content of mental representations of three-dimensional objects, 21 participants performed a mental rotation task with the classic Shepard and Metzler (1971) figures. We compared conditions in which the figures were monochromatic, a condition in which they were colored consistently, and a condition in which they were colored inconsistently. Color affected performance o...

This paper presents five abstract characteristics of the mental representation of computer programs hierarchical structure, explicit mapping of code to goals, foundation on recognition of recurring patterns, connection of knowledge, and grounding in the program text. An experiment is reported in which expert and novice programmers studied a Pascal program for comprehension and then answered a s...

Current theories are mixed with regard to the nature of mental representations following spatial description reading. Whereas some findings argue that individuals' representations are invariant following text-based, map-based, or first-person experience, other studies have suggested that representations can also exhibit considerable flexibility. In the current project we investigated the influe...

Is the encoding of content and format necessary for representing beliefs? In three experiments using ”false-representation” tasks, we explored whether beliefs were processed like non-mental representations, under the assumption that non-mental representations require both content and format to be processed. First, beliefs were compared to sentences (linguistic medium) while keeping representati...

Mental models are internal representations of world structure, used to accomplish cognitive tasks. I postulate specific representations (of objects and images) and associated context (of world and view) for mental models of line drawings. I then analyze the representations and context to predict specific perceptual modes, including the relative strengths of these modes. The predicted modes are ...

There has long been considerable controversy over the ontological status of mental images. Most recently, members of the A.I. community have argued for the sufficiency of "propositional representation" and have resisted the notion that other sorts of representations are functional in the human mind. The purpose of this paper is to review what I take to be the best evidence that images are disti...

PURPOSE This paper explores the manner in which modern horror films present stigmatizing depictions of psychosis and mental health care environments. CONCLUSIONS Horror films will often include stigmatizing representations of psychosis and mental health care environments. Cinematic techniques can create stigmatizing depictions of psychosis and mental health care environments. Misinformation i...

Three experiments examined the manner in which logic novices (i.e., college undergraduates) process and represent elementary and relational properties of propositional logic arguments. These experiments used an old/new recognition procedure under conditions in which participants had ample (Experiment 1) or limited time (Experiments 2 and 3) to encode these arguments. Results of these experiment...