Abstract
Larkin and Simon argue that a diagram is worth the words only when it displays the relations the solver must use — location, order, and what belongs to what — so search is cheaper than in sentential form.
Larkin, J. H., & Simon, H. A. (1987). Cognitive Science, 11(1), 65–100. DOI
Key findings
- Explicit relations — Diagrams help when they make the needed spatial and part-whole links visible, not because they are prettier.
- Search cost — The gain is computational: the solver finds the next part without rewriting the whole description.
Application
When you draw a victory as one poster, pull the parts into space so each piece can be pointed at. Pair Exploded-view thinking.