Conceptual Exhibits: Model Diagrams & Simulation Figures (psychrev-conceptual-exhibits)
When to trigger
- The theory is built and derived; now it must be shown
- Your figure is boxes-and-arrows with no specified dynamics
- You have a model but no plot of what it does
- A reviewer will ask "show me the model's behavior, not just its architecture"
The two figure types Psychological Review actually uses
Figures here carry theoretical work. They are almost never plots of an experiment you ran
(you ran none). There are two legitimate kinds:
- Model / architecture diagrams — the structure of the theory: components, representations,
information flow, feedback. Every box is a defined construct or module; every arrow is a
specified process or relationship from the theory, not decoration.
- Simulation-of-model-behavior figures — the model's output: predicted curves, surfaces,
phase portraits, parameter sweeps, fits to existing data. This is the figure that does the
persuasive work — it shows the model produces (or fails to produce) the diagnostic phenomena.
A third, supporting kind: model-vs-data and model-vs-rival overlays, where the model's
prediction is plotted against published data points or against a rival model's prediction.
Design rules for model diagrams
- Every box maps to a named assumption/construct/module in the text; every arrow to a specified
process. If a reader cannot read the diagram off the model description, it is decoration.
- Distinguish core structure from implementational detail visually (e.g., shading), so
reviewers see what is load-bearing.
- Keep the level of analysis consistent within a diagram (do not mix computational and
implementational components without saying so).
- Label representations and processes with the same terms used in the equations/algorithm.
Design rules for simulation figures
- Plot the diagnostic behaviors — the patterns that distinguish your theory from rivals.
- State, in the caption, the parameters used and whether they were fit or set a priori; a
simulation figure with undisclosed parameters is unreviewable.
- Show parameter sweeps where the qualitative pattern is the prediction (the pattern should
be robust across the plotted range, per
psychrev-boundary-conditions).
- Overlay existing data when confronting the model with evidence; cite the data source.
- When comparing to a rival, plot both predictions on the same axes; do not compare across panels
with different scales.
- Mark which curves are predictions (model not tuned on them) vs. fits (tuned).
Caption discipline (APA)
A Psychological Review caption is self-contained: what the panel shows, the model and
parameters that produced it, the data source if overlaid, and what theoretical point it makes.
Numbering and labels must match the text exactly; reference every figure in the prose.
Checklist
Anti-patterns
- A box-and-arrow diagram that cannot be read off the model description (decoration)
- Presenting the architecture but never the behavior the architecture produces
- Simulation figures with undisclosed or cherry-picked parameters
- Comparing model and rival across panels with mismatched axes/scales
- Plotting a fit and implying it is a prediction
- A figure of an experiment — there is no experiment; data appear only to constrain the model
Output format
【Figure list】[Fig 1: diagram | Fig 2..n: simulation/behavior | overlays vs. data/rival]
【Diagram check】boxes=constructs, arrows=processes, core vs. impl. distinguished: yes / fix
【Behavior figures】diagnostic patterns shown; parameters disclosed (fit vs. a priori): yes / fix
【Predictions vs. fits】visually marked: yes / fix
【Captions】self-contained, APA, matched to text: yes / fix
【Next step】psychrev-contribution-framing → psychrev-writing-style
Source: brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills → Psychological-Review-Skills/skills/psychrev-conceptual-exhibits/SKILL.md
1---2name: psychrev-conceptual-exhibits3description: Use when designing the figures of a Psychological Review manuscript — model/architecture diagrams and simulation-of-model-behavior plots (NOT experiments). Builds the exhibits; it does NOT derive the predictions they display (psychrev-argument-development) or set the model's scope (psychrev-boundary-conditions).4---567# Conceptual Exhibits: Model Diagrams & Simulation Figures (psychrev-conceptual-exhibits)89## When to trigger1011- The theory is built and derived; now it must be shown12- Your figure is boxes-and-arrows with no specified dynamics13- You have a model but no plot of what it *does*14- A reviewer will ask "show me the model's behavior, not just its architecture"1516## The two figure types Psychological Review actually uses1718Figures here carry **theoretical** work. They are almost never plots of an experiment you ran19(you ran none). There are two legitimate kinds:20211. **Model / architecture diagrams** — the structure of the theory: components, representations,22 information flow, feedback. Every box is a defined construct or module; every arrow is a23 specified process or relationship from the theory, not decoration.242. **Simulation-of-model-behavior figures** — the model's *output*: predicted curves, surfaces,25 phase portraits, parameter sweeps, fits to existing data. This is the figure that does the26 persuasive work — it shows the model produces (or fails to produce) the diagnostic phenomena.2728A third, supporting kind: **model-vs-data** and **model-vs-rival** overlays, where the model's29prediction is plotted against published data points or against a rival model's prediction.3031## Design rules for model diagrams3233- Every box maps to a named assumption/construct/module in the text; every arrow to a specified34 process. If a reader cannot read the diagram off the model description, it is decoration.35- Distinguish **core** structure from **implementational** detail visually (e.g., shading), so36 reviewers see what is load-bearing.37- Keep the level of analysis consistent within a diagram (do not mix computational and38 implementational components without saying so).39- Label representations and processes with the same terms used in the equations/algorithm.4041## Design rules for simulation figures4243- Plot the **diagnostic** behaviors — the patterns that distinguish your theory from rivals.44- State, in the caption, the **parameters used** and whether they were fit or set a priori; a45 simulation figure with undisclosed parameters is unreviewable.46- Show **parameter sweeps** where the qualitative pattern is the prediction (the pattern should47 be robust across the plotted range, per `psychrev-boundary-conditions`).48- Overlay **existing data** when confronting the model with evidence; cite the data source.49- When comparing to a rival, plot both predictions on the same axes; do not compare across panels50 with different scales.51- Mark which curves are **predictions** (model not tuned on them) vs. **fits** (tuned).5253## Caption discipline (APA)5455A Psychological Review caption is self-contained: what the panel shows, the model and56parameters that produced it, the data source if overlaid, and what theoretical point it makes.57Numbering and labels must match the text exactly; reference every figure in the prose.5859## Checklist6061- [ ] Every model-diagram box is a defined construct/module; every arrow a specified process62- [ ] Core structure is visually distinguished from implementational detail63- [ ] At least one simulation figure shows the model's diagnostic behavior64- [ ] Simulation captions disclose parameters and whether they were fit or set a priori65- [ ] Predictions (untuned) are visually distinguished from fits (tuned)66- [ ] Model-vs-data and model-vs-rival overlays share axes and cite data sources67- [ ] Figures meet APA resolution/format specs; numbering and labels match the text6869## Anti-patterns7071- A box-and-arrow diagram that cannot be read off the model description (decoration)72- Presenting the architecture but never the behavior the architecture produces73- Simulation figures with undisclosed or cherry-picked parameters74- Comparing model and rival across panels with mismatched axes/scales75- Plotting a fit and implying it is a prediction76- A figure of an experiment — there is no experiment; data appear only to constrain the model7778## Output format7980```81【Figure list】[Fig 1: diagram | Fig 2..n: simulation/behavior | overlays vs. data/rival]82【Diagram check】boxes=constructs, arrows=processes, core vs. impl. distinguished: yes / fix83【Behavior figures】diagnostic patterns shown; parameters disclosed (fit vs. a priori): yes / fix84【Predictions vs. fits】visually marked: yes / fix85【Captions】self-contained, APA, matched to text: yes / fix86【Next step】psychrev-contribution-framing → psychrev-writing-style87```8889---9091**Source:** [`brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills`](https://github.com/brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills) → `Psychological-Review-Skills/skills/psychrev-conceptual-exhibits/SKILL.md`
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