A Preliminary Test of a Theory of the Applicability Conditions for Three Spatial Diagram Representations

We are interested in college students' knowledge concerning three types of spatial diagram representations: hierarchies, matrices, and networks (i.e., path diagrams). Abstract diagrams such as these are important tools for thinking (e.g., Barwise & Etchemendy, 1991). For example, using spatial diagrams rather than sentential representations often facilitates learning and problem solving (e.g., Day, 1988; Novick & Hmelo, 1994).