Network representation was used to assess knowledge obtained during a teaching methodology course in elementary mathematics. Participants were the course instructor, 4 teacher educators, and 53 prospective teachers. Relatedness ratings on key terms were used to construct associative networks. Teacher educator networks shared significant similarities to the course instructor's network, and simil...

In this chapter, we describe our research and development efforts relating to eliciting, representing, and analyzing how individuals and small groups conceptualize complex problems. The methods described herein have all been developed and are in various states of being validated. In addition, the methods we describe have been automated and most have been integrated in an online modelbased set o...

This paper presents a general purpose framework for the design and implementation of a large scale collective decision making system. The unifying construct is a directed, weighted semantic network that connects humans, their mental models, and their artifacts to enable swarms of particles to traverse the network and rank solutions to the problems facing the group.

Metacognition addresses the issues of knowledge about cognition and regulating cognition. We argue that the regulation process should be improved with growing experience. Therefore mental models are needed which facilitate the re-use of previous regulation processes. We will satisfy this requirement by describing a case-based approach to Introspection Planning which utilises previous experience...

Negation, conjunction, and disjunction are major building blocks in the formation of concepts. This article presents a new model-based theory of these Boolean components. It predicts that individuals simplify the models of instances of concepts. Evidence corroborates the theory and challenges alternative accounts, such as those based on minimal descriptions, algebraic complexity, or structural ...

This study seeks to explore whether neuroticism, agreeableness, and conscientiousness moderate the influence of relationship conflict experienced in groups on changes in group members' evaluative cognitions related to teamwork quality (teamwork-related mental models). Data from 216 students, nested in 48 groups were analyzed using a multilevel modeling approach. Our results show that the experi...

In order to understand the role of pilot monitoring in the loss of mode awareness on automated flight decks, we studied 20 Boeing 747-400 line pilots in a simulated flight. We developed a set of scenario events that created challenges to monitoring. We measured automation use, eye fixations, and pilot mental models. The results showed that, at an aggregate level, pilot monitoring patterns were ...

Multimedia learning environments combine multiple sources of information (e.g., text, diagrams, and simulations) to help students master cognitively challenging domains. However, in order to benefi t from these environments, students need to make connections among the sources of information. One strategy for encouraging students to think deeply about and cognitively engage with the learning mat...

Cybersecurity research often describes people as understanding internet security in terms of metaphorical mental models (e.g., disease risk, physical security risk, or criminal behavior risk). However, little research has directly evaluated if this is an accurate or productive framework. To assess this question, two experiments asked participants to respond to a statistical reasoning task frame...

This paper shows that use of mental imagery alone during conceptual designing can improve idea development compared to idea development via sketching. We analysed design protocols of six expert architects working on two different design problems on the same site under two different conditions, one in which they were blindfolded and one in which they were sketching. Architects developed design i...