Friendly amendment: a commentary on Doyle and Ford's proposed re-definition of ‘mental model’
✍ Scribed by David C. Lane
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 1999
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 140 KB
- Volume
- 15
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0883-7066
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
Some amendments are proposed to a recent rede®nition of the mental model' concept in system dynamics. First, externalised, or articulated mental models should not be called cognitive maps'; this term has a well established, alternative meaning. Second, there can be mental models of entities not yet existing beyond an individual's mind; the modelling of planned or desired systems is possible and recommended. Third, saying that mental models maintain' social systems connects with some exciting research opportunities for system dynamics; however, it is probably an accidental distraction from the intended meaning of the rede®nition. These minor criticisms apart, the new de®nition of mental model of a dynamic system' is welcomed as a useful contribution to both research and practice.