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Mental Models of Groups as Social Systems

Considerations of Specification and Assessment

North Dakota State University

The concept of a mental model is described with regard to the way that individuals interact with social systems such as groups. Important considerations are described for identifying the attributes of a system (group) and the attributes of the individual's interaction with a system (group). These attributes then are considered in relation to the individual's mental model, which reflects beliefs an individual has about the way that states of the system lead to outcomes of the system (group), as well as the manner in which the individual's specific interactions with the system (group) lead to the states of the system, and the system (group) outcomes. The key notion of beliefs is used to describe methodsfor analyzing and identifying the attributes of mental models. One approach for assessing mental models, the belief association matrix, is described to illustrate the conceptualization provided here. An empirical assessment using the belief association matrix is demonstrated Issues related to the reliability and validity of mental models are discussed. It is suggested that valid and reliable measures of mental models can provide a substantialfoundation for understanding the way that individuals perceive the relation between their interactions with social systems such as groups, and the outcomes derivedfrom theirinteractions with social systems. Implications of mental models for understanding group interaction and performance are highlighted.

Small Group Research, Vol. 26, No. 2, 200-233 (1995)
DOI: 10.1177/1046496495262003


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