EFFECTS OF KNOWLEDGE MAP CHARACTERISTICS ON INFORMATION-PROCESSING

The majority of research on knowledge maps has focused on demonstrating their effectiveness in educational settings. However, very little work has attempted to xamine the parameters of map construction that mediate their impact on performance. The present set of experiments represents an attempt to remedy this situation by examining the impact of three parameters of map construction on knowledge acquisition. Experiment 1 investigated spatial configuration, Experiment 2 investigated map format, and Experiment 3 investigated link structure. Results of these examinations revealed that the way the maps were constructed influenced both the encoding and the retrieval of the information in the maps and that these effects were mediated by the users' spatial and verbal abilities. © 1992.