Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Mental Model Alignment

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Group Model Building

Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Operations Research ((BRIEFSOPERAT))

Abstract

Group model building describes a variety of methods for involving clients or stakeholders in the creation of a system dynamics model. One outcome sought by clients is enduring consensus between participants. Group model building appears to support enduring consensus by altering and aligning the mental models held by participants about the problem. Mental models are a construct from cognitive science to describe a relatively enduring internal representation of an external reality. This chapter infers mental model change and alignment through the elicitation of decision-preferences immediately before a group model building workshop, immediately afterwards, and twelve months later.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Abel N, Ross H, Walker P (1998) Mental models in rangeland research, communication and management. Rangel J 20:77–91

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andersen DF, Richardson GP, Vennix JAM (1997) Group model building: adding more science to the craft. Syst Dyn Rev 13(2):187–203

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arrowsmith DK, Place C (1990) An introduction to dynamical systems. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Bainbridge L (1991) Mental models and cognitive skill: the example of industrial process operation. In: Rutherford A and Rogers Y (eds) Models in the mind. Academic Press, New York, pp 119–144

    Google Scholar 

  • Cannon-Bowers JA, Salas E, Converse S (1993) Shared mental models in expert team decision making. In: Castellan NJ (ed) Individual and group decision making. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Hillsdale, pp 221–246

    Google Scholar 

  • Cavana RY, Delahaye BL, Sekaran U (2001) Applied business research: qualitative and quantitative methods. Wiley, Brisbane

    Google Scholar 

  • Christensen LB (2007) Experimental methodology. Boston MA, Pearson

    Google Scholar 

  • Carley K, Palmquist M (1992) Extracting, representing and analyzing mental models. Soc Forces 70:601–635

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Capelo C, Dias JF (2009) A system dynamics-based simulation experiment for testing mental model and performance effects of using the balanced scorecard. Syst Dyn Rev 25:1–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Craik KJW (1943) The nature of explanation. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Doyle JK (1997) The cognitive psychology of systems thinking. Syst Dyn Rev 13:263–265

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doyle JK, Ford DN (1998) Mental model concepts for system dynamics research. Syst Dyn Rev 14(3):29

    Google Scholar 

  • Doyle JK, Radzicki MJ, Trees WS (2008) Measuring change in mental models of complex dynamic systems. In: Qudrat-Ullah H, Spector JM, Davidsen PI (eds) Complex Decision Making. Springer, Berlin, pp 269–294

    Google Scholar 

  • Dray A, Perez P, Le Page C, D’Aquino P, White I (2007) Who wants to terminate the game? The role of vested interests and meta-players in the Atoll Game experience. Simulation and Gaming 38:494–511

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eden CE (1995) On evaluating the performance of ‘wide-band’ GDSS’s. Eur J Oper Res 81:302–311

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Faw TT, Pien D (1971) The influence of stimulus exposure on rated preference: effects of age, pattern of exposure, and stimulus meaningfulness. J Exp Child Psychol 11(3):339–346

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fischoff B, Beyth R (1975) “I knew it would happen” Remembered probabilities of once-future things. Organ Behav Human Perform 13:1–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fokkinga B, Bleijenbergh I, Vennix JAM (2009) Group model building evaluation in single cases: a method to assess changes in mental models. In: Proceedings of the 2009 international system dynamics conference. System Dynamics Society, Chestnut Hill

    Google Scholar 

  • Forrester JW (1971) Principles of systems. Productivity Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Forrester JW (1975) Collected papers of Jay W. Forrester. Wright-Allen Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Gentner D, Stevens AL (1983) Mental models. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Hillsdale

    Google Scholar 

  • Gary MS, Wood RE (2011) Mental models, decision rules, and performance heterogeneity. Strateg Manage J 32:560–594

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Größler A, Thun JH, Milling PM (2008) System dynamics as a structural theory in operations management. Prod Oper Manag 17(3):373–384

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hartnett T (2011) Consensus-oriented decision making. New Society Publishers, Gabriola Island

    Google Scholar 

  • Holsti OR (1969) Content analysis for the social sciences and humanities. Addison-Wesley: Reading

    Google Scholar 

  • Huz S (1999) Alignment from group model building for systems thinking: measurement and evaluation from a public policy setting. Ph.D. thesis. New York, State University New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Jensen E, Brehmer B (2003) Understanding and control of a simple dynamic system. Syst Dyn Rev 19(2):119–137

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson-Laird PN (1983) Mental models. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson TE, Lee Y, Lee M, O'Connor DL, Khalil MK, Huang X (2007) Measuring sharedness of team-related knowledge: design and validation of a shared mental model instrument. Human Resour Dev Int 10(4):437–454

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones NA, Ross H, Lynam T, Perez P, Leitch A (2011) Mental models: an interdisciplinary synthesis of theory and methods. Ecol Soc 16(1):46

    Google Scholar 

  • Kahneman D, Tversky A (2000) Choices, values, frames. Cambridge University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Kearney AR, Kaplan S (1997) Toward a methodology for the measurement of knowledge structures of ordinary people: The conceptual content cognitive map (3CM). Environ Behav 29:579–617

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Langan-Fox J, Code S, Langfield-Smith K (2000) Team mental models: Techniques, methods, and analytic approaches. Hum Factors 42:242–271

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Langan-Fox J, Wirth A, Code S, Langfield-Smith K, Wirth A (2001) Analyzing shared and team mental models. Int J Ind Ergon 28:99–112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Langfield-Smith K (1992) Exploring the need for a shared cognitive map. J Manage Stud 29(3):349–368

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lane DC (2003) Should system dynamics be described as a ‘hard’ or ‘deterministic’ systems approach? Syst Res Behav Sci 17(1):3–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lane DC (2008) The emergence and use of diagramming in system dynamics: a critical account. Syst Res Behav Sci 25(1):3–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lynam T, Mathevet R, Etienne M, Stone-Jovicich S, Leitch A, Jones N, Ross H, Du Toit D, Pollard S, Biggs H, Perez P (2012) Waypoints on a journey of discovery: mental models in human-environment interactions. Ecol Soc 17(3):23

    Google Scholar 

  • Markó́czy L, Goldberg J (1995) A method for eliciting and comparing causal maps. J Manag 21:305–333

    Google Scholar 

  • Moray N (1998) Identifying mental models of complex human-machine systems. Int J Ind Ergon 22:293–297

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moray N (2004) Models of models of…mental models. In: Moray N (ed) Ergonomics: major writings. Taylor and Francis, London, pp 506–526

    Google Scholar 

  • Nersessian NJ (2002) The cognitive basis of model-based reasoning in science. In: Carruthers P, Stich S, Siegal M (eds) The cognitive basis of science. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 133–153

    Google Scholar 

  • Ozesmi U, Ozesmi SL (2004) Ecological models based on people’s knowledge: A multistep fuzzy cognition mapping approach. Ecol Modell 176:43–64

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richardson GP, Pugh AL (1981) Introduction to system dynamics modeling with DYNAMO. MIT Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Richardson GP, Andersen DF, Maxwell TA, Stewart TR (1994) Foundations of mental model research. In: Proceedings of the 1994 international system dynamics conference. System Dynamics Society, Chestnut Hill

    Google Scholar 

  • Rouse WB, Morris NM (1986) On looking into the black box: prospects and limits in the search for mental models. Psychol Bull 100:349–363

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rouwette EAJA, Vennix JAM (2006) System dynamics and organizational interventions. Syst Res Behav Sci 23(4):451–466

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rouwette EAJA, Vennix JAM, van Mullekom T (2002) Group model building effectiveness: a review of assessment studies. Syst Dyn Rev 18(1):5–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rowe AL, Cooke NJ (1995) Measuring mental models: choosing the right tools for the job. Hum Resour Dev Q 6:243–255

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schaffernicht M (2006) Detecting and monitoring change in models. Syst Dyn Rev 22:73–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schaffernicht M, Größer SN (2009) What’s in a mental model of a dynamic system? Conceptual structure and model comparison. In: Proceedings of the 2009 international conference of the system dynamics society. System Dynamics Society, Chestnut Hill

    Google Scholar 

  • Schaffernicht M, Größer SN (2011) A comprehensive method for comparing mental models of dynamic systems. Eur J Oper Res 210:57–67

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schaffernicht M, Größer SN (2012) Learning to think in circles: Improving mental models of a dynamic system. In: Proceedings of the 2012 international conference of the system dynamics society. System Dynamics Society, Chestnut Hill

    Google Scholar 

  • Shadish WR, Cook TD, Campbell DT (2001) Experimental and quasi-experimental designs for generalized causal inference, 2nd edn. Wadsworth, Cengage Learning

    Google Scholar 

  • Steinert Y, Nasmith L, Daigle N (2003) Executive skills for medical faculty: a workshop description and evaluation. Med Teach 25(6):666–668

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stone-Jovicich SS, Lynam T, Leitch S, Jones NA (2011) Using consensus analysis to assess mental models about water use and management in the Crocodile River catchment, South Africa. Ecol Soc 16(1):45

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson JP (2009) How and under what conditions client learn in system dynamics consulting engagements. Ph.D. thesis. Strathclyde Business School,Glasgow

    Google Scholar 

  • Tversky A, Kahneman D (1973) Availability: a heuristic for judging frequency and probability. Cogn psychol 5:207–232

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van den Belt M (2000) Mediated modelling: a collaborative approach for the development of shared understanding and evaluation of environmental policy scenarios. With case studies in the Fox River Basin, Wisconsin and the Ria Formosa, Portugal. PhD thesis. University of Maryland

    Google Scholar 

  • van den Belt M (2004) Mediated modelling: a system dynamics approach to environmental consensus building. Island Press, Washington DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Vennix JAM (1990) Mental models and computer models: Design and evaluation of a computer based learning environment for policy-making. Ph.D. thesis. Radboud University: Nijmegen

    Google Scholar 

  • Vennix JAM (1996) Group model building: facilitating team learning using system dynamics. Wiley, Chichester

    Google Scholar 

  • Vennix JAM, Andersen DF, Richardson GP, Rohrbaugh J (1992) Model-building for group decision support: issues and alternatives in knowledge elicitation. Eur J Oper Res 59(1):28–41

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson JR, Rutherford A (1989) Mental models: theory and application in human factors. Hum Factors 31:617–634

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Winz I, Brierley G, Trowsdale S (2009) The use of system dynamics simulation in water resources management. Water Resour Manage 23(7):1301–1323

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

    Rodney Scott

Authors
  1. Rodney Scott
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rodney Scott .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Scott, R. (2018). Mental Model Alignment. In: Group Model Building. SpringerBriefs in Operations Research. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-8959-6_6

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation