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An Observation-Based Method for Measuring the Sharedness of Mental Models in Teams

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Coordination in Human and Primate Groups

Abstract

This chapter explores the role and development of mental models in coordination. We introduce a theoretical framework on the development of shared mental models and a measurement approach based on observational data. The basic assumption is that individual mental models are shared through verbal communication. At the beginning of a task, this is likely to be explicit and thus observable. Once the team members assume that they hold a shared mental model, less verbal communication will be required and team members will continue their coordination in an implicit fashion. The methodology is illustrated using data from observations of two meetings of a design team. The analysis largely confirms our hypotheses. Implications for using the model and method in other contexts are discussed.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Landbergstraat 15, 2628, CE, Delft, The Netherlands

    Petra Badke-Schaub & Andre Neumann

  2. Nijmegen School of Management, Radboud University Nijmegen, Thomas van Aquinostraat 3, 6500, HK, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Kristina Lauche

Authors
  1. Petra Badke-Schaub
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  2. Andre Neumann
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  3. Kristina Lauche
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Petra Badke-Schaub .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Georg-Elias-Müller-Institute for Psychol, University of Göttingen, Goßlerstr. 14, Göttingen, 37073, Germany

    Margarete Boos

  2. , Dept. of Management, Technology, and Eco, ETH Zürich, Kreuzplatz 5, Zürich, 8032, Switzerland

    Michaela Kolbe

  3. , Dept. of Behavioral Ecology, University of Göttingen, Kellnerweg 6, Göttingen, 37077, Germany

    Peter M. Kappeler

  4. , Dept. of Economic Psychology, University of Trier, Campus 1, Trier, 54286, Germany

    Thomas Ellwart

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Badke-Schaub, P., Neumann, A., Lauche, K. (2011). An Observation-Based Method for Measuring the Sharedness of Mental Models in Teams. In: Boos, M., Kolbe, M., Kappeler, P., Ellwart, T. (eds) Coordination in Human and Primate Groups. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-15355-6_10

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