Perceptual Strategies Used with Flow Diagrams Having Normal and Unanticipated Formats

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Abstract
12 adults sought specific information in one of two flow diagrams illustrating the evolution of the dinosaur. One diagram showed the animals evolving from left to right, with a time scale at the top of the page. The other was reversed so that the animals evolved right to left with the time scale at the bottom. Observations of subjects' eye movements over four exposures to the diagrams suggested that those seeing the second diagram quickly developed a “reversed diagram” schema, which improved the accuracy with which they found the information. The successful completion of a three-step perceptual strategy was not affected by the reversal of the diagram. However, the absence of an accurate diagram schema delayed the strategy and led to incorrect responses. These results clarify the relationship among anticipatory schemata, perceptual strategy, and performance when seeking information in diagrams.