Summary: Mental models are a concept used by cognitive scientists and human factors specialists to explain behaviors. They are defined as a collection of knowledge about a physical device, system, or process. Mental models provide an organizing principle of knowledge and can improve performance in tasks when compared to procedural instructions. However, there is a need for clear and uniform definitions of mental models, as different researchers have defined the construct in various ways.
Classes of Definitions of Mental Models Definitions of mental models fall into at least three classes: descriptions of mental models as collections of knowledge structures, de- scriptions of mental models as metaphors and analogies, and process descriptions of how users interact with complex systems. After dis- cussing these definitions of mental models, we will provide a definition that encompasses the various classes of descriptions. (View Highlight)